Semmering
Encyclopedia
For the town of the same name, see Semmering, Austria
.
Semmering (elevation 965 m) is a mountain pass
in the Eastern Northern Limestone Alps
connecting Lower Austria
and Styria
, between which it forms a natural border
.
With the Wechsel Pass
, the Semmering is the most important connection between Lower Austria and Styria. It can be crossed by road (via an Autobahn with a tunnel), or using the Semmering Railway
.
A village also bearing the name Semmering
is located on the pass. The villages of Maria Schutz and Spital am Semmering
are located slightly below the pass, on the Lower Austrian and Styrian sides respectively. Schottwien
and Mürzzuschlag
are the closest sizeable towns on either side.
n railway network, the Semmering Railway
, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is planned to be supplemented by a tunnel located at the base of the mountains. The project is supported by the Austrian Federal Government and the governments of Styria and Carinthia
, but has been heavily opposed by the government of Lower Austria, which stalled the project by issuing negative environmental impact statement
s. The project has now been revised according the advanced state of technology and the layout of the line has been altered in order to minimize effects on ground water.
, called Zauberberg
, which also hosts World Cup
events, is located at the pass and extends on to the Hirschenkogel mountain. It is mainly used by skiers from Vienna, from where it can be reached within one hour, but increasingly also by people from Hungary
and Slovakia
.
Semmering, Austria
Semmering is a town in the district of Neunkirchen in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It is famous for its skiing, and has hosted the Alpine skiing World Cup several times. When the famous Semmering Railway was completed in 1854, it brought many tourists from Vienna to here. Today, tourists...
.
Semmering (elevation 965 m) is a mountain pass
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
in the Eastern Northern Limestone Alps
Northern Limestone Alps
The Northern Limestone Alps are the ranges of the Eastern Alps north of the Central Eastern Alps located in Austria and the adjacent Bavarian lands of southeastern Germany. The distinction from the latter group, where the higher peaks are located, is based on differences in geological composition...
connecting Lower Austria
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
and Styria
Styria (state)
Styria is a state or Bundesland, located in the southeast of Austria. In area it is the second largest of the nine Austrian federated states, covering 16,401 km². It borders Slovenia as well as the other Austrian states of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Burgenland, and Carinthia. ...
, between which it forms a natural border
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
.
Location
Semmering Pass is located west of Sonnwendstein and Hirschenkogel and east of the Pinkenkogel.With the Wechsel Pass
Wechsel Pass
Wechsel Pass is a high mountain pass in the Austrian Alps, located between the Bundesländer of Lower Austria and Styria.Along with Semmering Pass, Wechsel Pass is one of the most important connections between Lower Austria and Styria...
, the Semmering is the most important connection between Lower Austria and Styria. It can be crossed by road (via an Autobahn with a tunnel), or using the Semmering Railway
Semmering Railway
The Semmering railway, Austria, which starts at Gloggnitz and leads over the Semmering to Mürzzuschlag was the first mountain railway in Europe built with a standard gauge track. It is commonly referred to as the world's first true mountain railway, given the very difficult terrain and the...
.
A village also bearing the name Semmering
Semmering, Austria
Semmering is a town in the district of Neunkirchen in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It is famous for its skiing, and has hosted the Alpine skiing World Cup several times. When the famous Semmering Railway was completed in 1854, it brought many tourists from Vienna to here. Today, tourists...
is located on the pass. The villages of Maria Schutz and Spital am Semmering
Spital am Semmering
Spital am Semmering is a municipality in the district of Mürzzuschlag in Styria, Austria. It is home to the Stuhleck ski hill....
are located slightly below the pass, on the Lower Austrian and Styrian sides respectively. Schottwien
Schottwien
Schottwien is a town in the district of Neunkirchen in the Austrian state of Lower Austria....
and Mürzzuschlag
Mürzzuschlag
Mürzzuschlag is a town in northeastern Styria, Austria, the capital of the Mürzzuschlag District. It is located on the Mürz river near the Semmering Pass, the border with the state of Lower Austria, about southwest of Vienna. The population is 8,745...
are the closest sizeable towns on either side.
Rail transportation
As the Semmering is a major bottleneck in the AustriaAustria
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 railway network, the Semmering Railway
Semmering Railway
The Semmering railway, Austria, which starts at Gloggnitz and leads over the Semmering to Mürzzuschlag was the first mountain railway in Europe built with a standard gauge track. It is commonly referred to as the world's first true mountain railway, given the very difficult terrain and the...
, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is planned to be supplemented by a tunnel located at the base of the mountains. The project is supported by the Austrian Federal Government and the governments of Styria and Carinthia
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
, but has been heavily opposed by the government of Lower Austria, which stalled the project by issuing negative environmental impact statement
Environmental impact statement
An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making...
s. The project has now been revised according the advanced state of technology and the layout of the line has been altered in order to minimize effects on ground water.
Skiing
The Semmering ski resortSki resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
, called Zauberberg
Zauberberg
Zauberberg may refer to:* Der Zauberberg , novel by Thomas Mann* Zauberberg , by Gas* Zauberberg , Austria...
, which also hosts World Cup
Alpine skiing World Cup
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts which included French journalist Serge Lang and the alpine ski team directors from France and the USA...
events, is located at the pass and extends on to the Hirschenkogel mountain. It is mainly used by skiers from Vienna, from where it can be reached within one hour, but increasingly also by people from Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
.
Numismatics
The Semmering Pass is featured on a famous commemorative coin: the 25 euro 150 Years of the Semmering Alpine Railway Coin. The reverse of the coin shows a typical Semmering view. A steam engine has just emerged from a tunnel crossing one of the distinctive viaducts.See also
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
- List of mountain passes