Arlberg
Encyclopedia
Arlberg is a mountain range or massif
between Vorarlberg
and Tyrol in Austria
.
The highest peak is the "Valluga" at 2811 metres (9,222 ft). The name Arlberg derives from the tradition of the "Arlenburg," who are said to have once established themselves on the Tyrolean side of the Arlberg passes (1,793 m over sea level). Another story derives the name from the "Arlenbushes" that are very numerous here. There is no mountain with the name "Arlberg" proper. Popular places and famous ski resorts at the Arlberg are Lech
, Zürs
, Stuben, St. Christoph and St. Anton
.
or Immenstadt
for trading. The development of the textile industry and of the postal service, however, led to the road's being surfaced in 1824.
With the rise of motor traffic in the 20th century, however, this became inadequate. It was decided that a 14 km long Arlberg Road Tunnel
would be built between Langen and St. Anton. On July 5, 1974 the work began and the passage was opened to traffic on December 1, 1978. The tunnel has a toll; however, the old road over the pass is toll-free. A peculiarity of the tunnel is that it actually consists of two tunnels. On the Tyrolian side it is built over the "Rosanna Gorge" before the actual massif rises up in the direction of Vorarlberg over the tunnel.
. Between St. Anton and Langen it runs through the 10.25 km long Arlbergtunnel
.
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
between Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg is the westernmost federal-state of Austria. Although it is the second smallest in terms of area and population , it borders three countries: Germany , Switzerland and Liechtenstein...
and Tyrol in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
The highest peak is the "Valluga" at 2811 metres (9,222 ft). The name Arlberg derives from the tradition of the "Arlenburg," who are said to have once established themselves on the Tyrolean side of the Arlberg passes (1,793 m over sea level). Another story derives the name from the "Arlenbushes" that are very numerous here. There is no mountain with the name "Arlberg" proper. Popular places and famous ski resorts at the Arlberg are Lech
Lech am Arlberg
Lech am Arlberg is a mountain village and an exclusive ski resort in the Bludenz district of Vorarlberg, in western Austria, on the banks of the river Lech. In terms of both geography and history, Lech belongs to the Tannberg district...
, Zürs
Zürs
Zürs at the Flexenpass is a ski resort consisting of only a couple of hotels in Vorarlberg, Austria. Zürs is part of the Arlberg ski region and famous for its skiing, especially its backcountry skiing and its Olympic skiing champions...
, Stuben, St. Christoph and St. Anton
St. Anton
Sankt Anton am Arlberg is a village and ski resort in Tyrol, western Austria, with a permanent population of approximately . It is situated at above sea level in the Tyrolean Alps, with Aerial tramways and chairlifts up to . It is also a popular summer resort among trekkers and...
.
Pass roads and the Arlberg tunnel
The old pass route was known since the 14th century in the form of a narrow mule track when people began to trade salt in this region. However, because the Arlberg was very poorly developed, for centuries people avoided the route and took detours over the Fern PassFern Pass
- Geography :Fern Pass is a mountain pass in the Tyrolean Alps in Austria. It is located between the Lechtal Alps on the west and the Mieming Mountains on the east. The highest peak in Germany, the Zugspitze is only 13.5 km away to the northeast...
or Immenstadt
Immenstadt
Immenstadt im Allgäu is a town in the Upper Allgäu, far southern region of Bavaria, Germany, in the German Alps.-External links:*...
for trading. The development of the textile industry and of the postal service, however, led to the road's being surfaced in 1824.
With the rise of motor traffic in the 20th century, however, this became inadequate. It was decided that a 14 km long Arlberg Road Tunnel
Arlberg Road Tunnel
The Arlberg Road Tunnel with a length of 13,976 metres is Austria's longest road tunnel. It carries the S16 Arlbergschnellstraße under the Arlberg massif from Tyrol to Vorarlberg....
would be built between Langen and St. Anton. On July 5, 1974 the work began and the passage was opened to traffic on December 1, 1978. The tunnel has a toll; however, the old road over the pass is toll-free. A peculiarity of the tunnel is that it actually consists of two tunnels. On the Tyrolian side it is built over the "Rosanna Gorge" before the actual massif rises up in the direction of Vorarlberg over the tunnel.
Arlberg Railway
The Arlberg railway connects Innsbruck with BludenzBludenz
Bludenz is a town in the state of Vorarlberg in Austria. The town, surrounded by mountains, lies at the meeting point of five different valleys: The Klostertal, The Montafon, The Walgau, The Brandnertal, The Groß Walsertal....
. Between St. Anton and Langen it runs through the 10.25 km long Arlbergtunnel
Arlbergtunnel (railway)
The Arlberg Railway Tunnel with a length of is the central part of the Arlberg railway in western Austria between the provinces of Tyrol and Vorarlberg. The tunnel runs through the Arlberg massif at the northeastern end of the Rhaetian Alps....
.
See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes