Kaunertal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kaunertal
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
|
||
 Kaunertal
Location in Austria
|
||
| Country | Austria | |
| State | Tyrol | |
| District | Landeck | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 193.52 km2 (74.72 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,287 m (4,222 ft) | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Postal code |
6524
|
|
| Area code | 05475 | |
| Vehicle registration | LA | |
| Website | www.kaunertal.eu | |
The Kaunertal is a beautiful alpine valley and a small town in Tyrol, Austria. It's located in the Landeck area, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) southeast of the town of Landeck. The valley follows the upper part of the Inn River.
Contents
Exploring the Kaunertal Valley
The Kaunertal valley stretches for 28 kilometers (17 miles). It runs from the town of Prutz up towards the Kaunertal Glacier. A river called the Faggenbach flows through the valley. This river starts near the Weißseespitze mountain and joins the Inn River in Prutz.
The Gepatsch Reservoir
High up in the valley, you'll find the Gepatsch Reservoir. This is a large lake, about 6 kilometers (4 miles) long. It holds a huge amount of water, 138 million cubic meters! The lake was created by a special type of dam built in 1961. This dam is 630 meters (2,067 feet) long and 130 meters (427 feet) high.
The water from the Gepatsch Reservoir is used to make electricity. It travels through a 13-kilometer (8-mile) pipe system to a power station in Prutz. This station produces a lot of electricity every year. The surface of the lake is very high up, at 1,820 meters (5,971 feet) above sea level.
Kaunertal Glacier Road
One of the most famous features of the Kaunertal is its Glacier Road. This toll road is one of the highest paved roads in the Alps. It climbs to an amazing height of 2,750 meters (9,025 feet)! The road has 29 sharp turns, called 180-degree turns, as it winds its way up the mountain.
Glacier Ski Area
The Kaunertal Glacier Road leads directly to a popular ski area. This ski area opened in 1982 and is a major source of income for the region. It has 35 kilometers (22 miles) of ski slopes and 10 ski lifts. Because the ski area is so high up (between 2,200 and 3,050 meters or 7,218 and 10,007 feet), and thanks to the glacier, you can ski there for a long season, usually from mid-October to mid-June!
Historic Sites
In the valley, you can also see the ruins of Bernegg Castle. This castle dates back to the 13th century and includes a Gothic-style chapel. The main town in the valley is Kauns, located near the Inn River. It has a special chapel called Schranz Chapel, which holds the Kauner Kreuz.
Notable People
- Alexander Van der Bellen (born 1944) is a famous person from Kaunertal. He became the President of Austria.
See also
In Spanish: Kaunertal para niños
