Saalach
Encyclopedia
The Saalach is a 103 kilometres (64 mi) long river
in Austria
and Germany
, and a left tributary of the Salzach
.
begins, as the Saalbach stream, in the Austrian state of Tyrol in the Kitzbühel Alps at the Torsee lake below the 2,178 m high Gamshag
. From there it flows initially eastwards through the Glemmtal
valley, through Hinterglemm, then the ski resort of Saalbach
– at the latest from there it is known as the Saalach – until it bends north at Maishofen
. It follows the broad valley to Saalfelden
, and meanders further on through the narrow valley between the Leoganger
and Loferer Steinberge
and the Steinernes Meer
to Lofer
in north-western direction. There it enters a narrow gorge, famous for its white water rafting. Crossing the border to Bavaria
(Germany
) at Melleck it flows along the northern slopes of the Reiteralm
known for its famous climbing routes. A short distance before Bad Reichenhall
, a dam of a hydro-electrical power plant collects the waters of the Saalachsee. The power plant provides the energy for the railway line Salzburg
, Freilassing
, Bad Reichenhall
to Berchtesgaden
. Having passed Staufeneck, the Saalach leaves the mountains and enters the flat forests called Saalachau. From Piding
on north-eastwards the border to Austria follows the river for some 10 km to Freilassing at which northern community border it merges with the river Salzach
.
The name has its origin from Saal, an old form of Salz (salt), and Ach which denotes a small river.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
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...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and a left tributary of the Salzach
Salzach
The Salzach is a river in Austria and Germany. It is a right tributary of the Inn and is 225 kilometres in length.The river's name is derived from the German word Salz, meaning "salt". Until the 19th century shipping of salt down the river was an important part of the local economy...
.
Course
The riverRiver
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
begins, as the Saalbach stream, in the Austrian state of Tyrol in the Kitzbühel Alps at the Torsee lake below the 2,178 m high Gamshag
Gamshag
The Gamshag is a mountain in the Kitzbühel Alps in the Austrian state of Tyrol whose summit reaches a height of .The Gamshag is located northwest of the Torsee lake, the source of the River Saalach. The prominent peak of the Tristkogel rises to the northeast...
. From there it flows initially eastwards through the Glemmtal
Glemmtal
The Glemmtal in the Austrian state of Salzburg is the valley of the roughly 30 km long upper reaches of the River Saalach. It belongs to the northern Pinzgau region and separates the Kitzbühel Alps in an east-west direction...
valley, through Hinterglemm, then the ski resort of Saalbach
Saalbach-Hinterglemm
Saalbach-Hinterglemm is a municipality in the district of Zell am See , in the Austrian state of Salzburg. It is well-known for its skiing and other winter sports...
– at the latest from there it is known as the Saalach – until it bends north at Maishofen
Maishofen
Maishofen is a municipality in the district of Zell am See , in the state of Salzburg in Austria. The population is 3026....
. It follows the broad valley to Saalfelden
Saalfelden
Saalfelden is a town in the Austrian state of Salzburg and is the administrative centre of the Pinzgauer Saalachtal...
, and meanders further on through the narrow valley between the Leoganger
Leoganger Steinberge
The Leoganger Steinberge are a mountain range in Austria in the state of Salzburg and form part of the Northern Limestone Alps within the Eastern Alps...
and Loferer Steinberge
Loferer Steinberge
The Loferer Steinberge are a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps in the Eastern Alps of central Europe. They are located in Austria in the federal states of Tyrol and Salzburg...
and the Steinernes Meer
Steinernes Meer
The Steinernes Meer is a high karst plateau in the Northern Limestone Alps. As one of the nine sub-ranges of the Berchtesgaden Alps the Steinernes Meer belongs partly to Bavaria and partly to Salzburg.- Location :...
to Lofer
Lofer
Lofer is a market town in the Pinzgau region of Salzburg in Austria. It also hosts a lovely ski resort, with 48km of pisted runs.-Overview:...
in north-western direction. There it enters a narrow gorge, famous for its white water rafting. Crossing the border to Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
(Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) at Melleck it flows along the northern slopes of the Reiteralm
Reiteralm
Reiteralm is part of the Schladminger 4-Berge-Schaukel, a network of four mountains. It is located in Austria....
known for its famous climbing routes. A short distance before Bad Reichenhall
Bad Reichenhall
Bad Reichenhall is a spa town, and administrative center of the Berchtesgadener Land district in Upper Bavaria, Germany. It is located near Salzburg in a basin encircled by the Chiemgauer Alps ....
, a dam of a hydro-electrical power plant collects the waters of the Saalachsee. The power plant provides the energy for the railway line Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Freilassing
Freilassing
Freilassing is a municipality of some 16,000 inhabitants situated in the southeastern corner of Bavaria, Germany. It belongs to the "Regierungsbezirk" Oberbayern and the "Landkreis" of Berchtesgadener Land...
, Bad Reichenhall
Bad Reichenhall
Bad Reichenhall is a spa town, and administrative center of the Berchtesgadener Land district in Upper Bavaria, Germany. It is located near Salzburg in a basin encircled by the Chiemgauer Alps ....
to Berchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden is a municipality in the German Bavarian Alps. It is located in the south district of Berchtesgadener Land in Bavaria, near the border with Austria, some 30 km south of Salzburg and 180 km southeast of Munich...
. Having passed Staufeneck, the Saalach leaves the mountains and enters the flat forests called Saalachau. From Piding
Piding
Piding is an approved climatic spa in Bavaria near to the border of Austria close to Bad Reichenhall and Freilassing.-Geographical position:Piding is located in the middle of the Landkreis Berchtesgadener Land....
on north-eastwards the border to Austria follows the river for some 10 km to Freilassing at which northern community border it merges with the river Salzach
Salzach
The Salzach is a river in Austria and Germany. It is a right tributary of the Inn and is 225 kilometres in length.The river's name is derived from the German word Salz, meaning "salt". Until the 19th century shipping of salt down the river was an important part of the local economy...
.
The name has its origin from Saal, an old form of Salz (salt), and Ach which denotes a small river.