Facts & Figures surrounding Ötztal Nature Park
Situated | in the Ötz valley |
Altitude | 774 m (Piburger See) - 3.774 m (Wildspitze) above sea level |
Area | 508 km² (second biggest Nature Park of Tyrol, third biggest Nature Park of Austria) |
Glaciers | 95 km² (as of 2008), 18% of the Nature Park area |
Founding of the association | April 1st, 2003 |
Decree of the federal government concerning Ötztal Nature Park | September 19th, 2006 |
Enlargement | June 9th 2009 |
Management | since April 1st, 2005 |
Office | Obergurgl |
Aims | - Preservation of nature & landscape |
Members of the Association | Municipality of Sölden, Längenfeld, Umhausen, Oetz, Sautens, Haiming |
Nature Park Municipality | Sölden, Längenfeld, Umhausen, Oetz |
Network of trails | More than 100 km of hiking trails, which include several interpretive trails |
Public transport | VVT and Ötztaler Transportation Department (ÖVG) |
Guided tours | 12 guided tours/week in 6 regions (Vorderes Tal, Umhausen, Längenfeld, Sölden, Vent, Obergurgl) |
Interpretive nature trails | Natural monument in Obergurgl – Swiss Pine forest |
Archeological | loop trail Beilstein |
Areas under protection | - "Ruhegebiet" and Natura2000 area Ötztal Alps |
Peaks above 3.000m | 114 |
Lakes (larger than 1 hectare) | 38 |
Cabins and huts | 26 (4 above 3.000 m) |
Flora | More than 850 plants (126 of them are under protection, 69 Red List plants) |
Fauna | More than 960 animals (20 of them are under protection and 20 Red List animals) |
PDF-Download: Naturpark Ötztal factsheet (400 KB)
Unique features
- Largest and longest glaciers in the entire Eastern Alpine region (Hintereisferner, Gross Vernagtferner, Gurglerferner)
- Environmental research conducted on Alpine ecosystems (since more than 50 years)
- Highest marsh in the eastern Alps on Mount Rofen (2.774m)
- Highest waterfall in Tyrol – Stuiben waterfall
- Site of discovery of the mummy in the ice "Ötzi"
- Oldest illustration of glaciers in the world – water color painting dating back to 1601 on "glacies continua et perpetua"
- Highest beekeeping in Tyrol
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