Saalfelden
Encyclopedia
Saalfelden is a town in the Austria
n state
of Salzburg
and is the administrative centre of the Pinzgauer Saalachtal. With approximately 16,000 inhabitants (late 2004), Saalfelden is also the largest town in the Pinzgau
and the third of its federal state after Salzburg
and Hallein
.
To the south the basin is generally open, running into the Zell Basin (Zeller Becken) with the lake of the Zeller See and the River Salzach – hence the term Zell-Saalfelden Basin Zeller-Saalfeldener Becken is also used for the whole valley – and enables a view of the High Tauern, especially the Kitzsteinhorn
and the Wiesbachhorn. The two basins are separated by a barely discernable valley floor divide. This trough is one of the largest inner-Alpine basins.
The main river in the basin is the Saalach. This rises in the upper Glemmtal
, empties into the basin south of Saalfelden and passes through it from south to north. The right tributary of the Saalach flowing through the borough of Saalfelden from east to west is the Urslau. Its left tributary, the Leoganger Ache, empties into the Saalach from the west. In addition there are several smaller tributary streams.
In the centre of the basin is the Kühbichl (Kühbühel) hill which is a good 100 m high.
The only lake in the expansive basin is the man-made Ritzensee, excavated for leisure purposes. Other artificial ponds have been laid out primarily for angling and tourism.
.
Footpaths and trails are used in winter as cross country skiing routes. In the village of Uttenhofen there several ski jumps including those of the Felix Gottwald Ski Jumping Stadium
and a centre for Nordic combination. Saalfelden earned fame in the langlauf and biathlon sports through its top athletes: Felix Gottwald
, Simon Eder
, Julian Eberhard and Tobias Eberhard.
Since 2006 an international triathlon
competition has taken place annually in Saalfelden in August, the Tri Motion 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...
n state
States of Austria
Austria is a federal republic made up of nine states, known in German as Länder . Since Land is also the German word for a country, the term Bundesländer is often used instead to avoid ambiguity. The Constitution of Austria uses both terms...
of Salzburg
Salzburg (state)
Salzburg is a state or Land of Austria with an area of 7,156 km2, located adjacent to the German border. It is also known as Salzburgerland, to distinguish it from its capital city, also named Salzburg...
and is the administrative centre of the Pinzgauer Saalachtal. With approximately 16,000 inhabitants (late 2004), Saalfelden is also the largest town in the Pinzgau
Pinzgau
The Bezirk Zell am See is an administrative district in the federal state of Salzburg, Austria, and congruent with the Pinzgau region....
and the third of its federal state after 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...
and Hallein
Hallein
Hallein is a historic town in the Austrian state of Salzburg, the capital of the Hallein district. It is located in the Tennengau region south of the City of Salzburg, along the Salzach river in the shadow of the Untersberg massif, near the border with Germany. With a population of c...
.
Saalfelden Basin
Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer lies at 744 m above sea level and its municipal area covers 118 km2. The largest proportion of the municipality is formed by the Saalfelden Basin (Saalfeldner Becken) which nestles between:- the Steinernes MeerSteinernes MeerThe 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 the north - the Leoganger SteinbergeLeoganger SteinbergeThe 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 the Biberg to the west - and the Hochkönig Massif and the Dienten Mountains to the east.
To the south the basin is generally open, running into the Zell Basin (Zeller Becken) with the lake of the Zeller See and the River Salzach – hence the term Zell-Saalfelden Basin Zeller-Saalfeldener Becken is also used for the whole valley – and enables a view of the High Tauern, especially the Kitzsteinhorn
Kitzsteinhorn
The Kitzsteinhorn is a mountain in the main chain of the Alps in the district of Kaprun, Salzburg, Austria. The Kitzsteinhorn is part of the Hohe Tauern range in the eastern Alps and reaches a height of above sea level. It was first climbed in 1828 by Johann Entacher.The summit can be reached...
and the Wiesbachhorn. The two basins are separated by a barely discernable valley floor divide. This trough is one of the largest inner-Alpine basins.
The main river in the basin is the Saalach. This rises in the upper 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...
, empties into the basin south of Saalfelden and passes through it from south to north. The right tributary of the Saalach flowing through the borough of Saalfelden from east to west is the Urslau. Its left tributary, the Leoganger Ache, empties into the Saalach from the west. In addition there are several smaller tributary streams.
In the centre of the basin is the Kühbichl (Kühbühel) hill which is a good 100 m high.
The only lake in the expansive basin is the man-made Ritzensee, excavated for leisure purposes. Other artificial ponds have been laid out primarily for angling and tourism.
Overview
Although Saalfelden has, since time immemorial, been the most populous parish of the Pinzgau, the town is not the seat of the district administration. This is situated in the neighboring town of Zell am SeeZell am See
Zell am See is the capital city of the Zell am See district in the Austrian state of Salzburg. The city has about 10,000 inhabitants.Zell am See is a tourist destination and a transportation hub for the region...
.
Sport and leisure
The Ritzensee and the adjacent Kollingwald forest are the recreation areas for Saalfelden's townsfolk. The lake is used in summer as a bathing lake and in winter for ice skating.Footpaths and trails are used in winter as cross country skiing routes. In the village of Uttenhofen there several ski jumps including those of the Felix Gottwald Ski Jumping Stadium
Felix Gottwald Ski Jumping Stadium
The Felix Gottwald Ski Jump Stadium is located in the village of Uttenhofen in the borough of Saalfelden in the Austrian state of Salzburg. It has four jumps of categories K 15, K 30, K 60 and K 85.- History :...
and a centre for Nordic combination. Saalfelden earned fame in the langlauf and biathlon sports through its top athletes: Felix Gottwald
Felix Gottwald
Felix Gottwald is an Austrian Nordic combined athlete who competed from 1994 to 2007 and then returned to compete in 2009...
, Simon Eder
Simon Eder
Simon Eder is an Austrian biathlete. First World Cup win in Khanty-Mansiysk Mass-start 29 March 2009.- External links :* *...
, Julian Eberhard and Tobias Eberhard.
Since 2006 an international triathlon
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
competition has taken place annually in Saalfelden in August, the Tri Motion Austria.