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19-473: Three main peaks array on a N-S axis along a ridge on the mountain's taller western half: Hocheck (2,651 m), Mittelspitze (Middle Peak, 2,713 m) and Südspitze (South Peak, 2,712 m). The Watzmann massif also includes the 2,307 m Watzmannfrau ( Watzmann Wife , also known as Kleiner Watzmann or Small Watzmann ), and the Watzmannkinder ( Watzmann Children ), five lower peaks in the recess between

38-605: A false sense of security. From the Südspitze, most hikers will not return to the Watzmann Hut but continue to descend into the Wimbachgries valley and from there back to Ramsau . One should estimate 12 to 17 hours for the complete circuit, stable weather conditions are essential as drastic weather change on the ridge between the peaks can be fatal. On the northeastern face of the massif at 1,346 m (4,416 ft)

57-541: A few fields of firn , but between 1965 and 1980 it advanced significantly again and now has an area of 10.1 hectares (25 acres). Above and to the west of the icefield lie the remains of a JU 52 transport-bomber that crashed in October 1940. Amongst the other permanent snow and icefields the Eiskapelle ("Ice Chapel") is the best known due to its easy accessibility from St. Bartholomä . The Eiskapelle may well be

76-464: Is a scenic viewpoint called Archenkanzel. From there, it is possible to look down to lake Königssee , which is 743 meters below, and also to St. Bartholomew's Church . A much more serious and challenging climb is the famous East Face ( Watzmann-Ostwand ), which rises from the Hirschau peninsula at lake Königssee to the main peaks in a vertical ascent of around 1,800 metres (the longest wall in

95-522: Is around two hours from the Watzmann Hut. From the Hocheck, hikers can return to the hut or continue and traverse to the Mittelspitze and from there to the Südspitze. The traverse is more challenging, at the easier end of UIAA Class II, and very exposed. Permanent cables once existed along the ridge, but were dismantled at some points to prevent inexperienced hikers from attempting the traverse, having

114-462: The Eastern Alps ). While the easiest routes through the east wall is rated UIAA Class III, the wall has claimed almost 100 lives so far. Difficulties include the length of the climb, route-finding, and deteriorating weather conditions approaching from west, the predominant direction for weather change in the area, difficult to ascertain from the face. A simple emergency shelter has been erected in

133-821: The Wimbachtal valley, the massif of Hochkalter (2,607 metres (8,553 ft)). The Watzmann is the third highest mountain massif in Germany. The Watzmann Glacier , located below the eastern face of the Watzmann, and the Blaueis , adjacent to the Hochkalter, are two of the five glaciers in Germany. The park also contains the Hintersee . The first nature conservation area in the Berchtesgaden Alps

152-649: The Eisbach emerges from the Eiskapelle . Before entering there is an urgent warning sign that others have been killed by falling ice. In the east face itself is another icefield in the so-called Schöllhorn cirque, called the Schöllhorneis , which is crossed by the Kederbach Way ( Kederbacher-Weg ). The cirque and icefield are named after the Munich citizen, Christian Schöllhorn , who was the first victim on

171-402: The Watzmann Hut at 1,928 metres, such as hiking trail 441 from Wimbachbrücke. This is quoted as taking four hours, though an experienced hiker can do it in less than three. One typically spends the night there and then climbs to the summit the next morning. The climb from the hut to the Hocheck peak (2,651 m) is quite straightforward, though a head for heights is required on the peak. The Hocheck

190-876: The center of the park is a large lake, the Königssee , which is elongated from the south to the west and is the source of the Königsseer Ache , a right tributary of the Salzach . A smaller lake, the Obersee , is located above the Königssee and drains into it. The whole area of the park belongs to the drainage basin of the Salzach, and, consequently, of the Danube . West of the lake is the massif of Watzmann (2,713 metres (8,901 ft)), and beyond that, separated by

209-425: The east face. On 26 May 1890 he fell at the upper end of the icefield into the randkluft and was fatally injured. Another small nameless snowfield is located several hundred metres below the Mittelspitze also in the east face. The best climbing period is June through September, in some years October. The easiest route is to follow hiking trails from the village of Ramsau near the small town of Berchtesgaden up to

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228-510: The landscapes of the Berchtesgaden Alps . Headquartered in the town of Berchtesgaden , the park was designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1990. The park is located in the mountainous area south of the town of Berchtesgaden. The eastern, southern, and western boundaries of the park coincide with the state border between Germany and Austria. The area of the park is economically undeveloped, and there are no settlements. In

247-454: The lowest lying permanent snowfield in the Alps. Its lower end is only 930 metres high in the upper Eisbach valley and is about an hour's walk from St. Bartholomä on the Königssee . The Eiskapelle is fed by mighty avalanches that slide down from the east face of the Watzmann in spring and accumulate in the angle of the rock face. Sometimes a gate-shaped vault forms in the ice at the point where

266-650: The main peaks and the Watzmannfrau. The entire massif lies inside Berchtesgaden National Park . The Watzmann Glacier is located below the famous east face of the Watzmann in the Watzmann cirque and is surrounded by the Watzmanngrat arête , the Watzmannkindern and the Kleiner Watzmann . The size of the glacier reduced from around 30 hectares (74 acres) in 1820 until it split into

285-545: The park was expanded. As of 2012, its area was 210 square kilometres (81 sq mi). There are six information centers, located in Berchtesgaden, in Ramsau, and inside the park. The park maintains an extensive network of trails. One of the cultural attractions of the park is the pilgrimage Church of Saint Bartholomew , located on the Königssee. Eastern Alps Too Many Requests If you report this error to

304-484: The wall. Even experienced climbers are advised to hire a local guide for the wall as finding the route can be challenging. Berchtesgaden National Park Berchtesgaden National Park is in the south of Germany , on its border with Austria, in the municipalities of Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden and Schönau am Königsee , Berchtesgadener Land in Bavaria . The national park was established in 1978 to protect

323-535: Was created in what is currently the southeastern part of the park in 1910. It had an area of 8,600 hectares (21,000 acres) and was organized according to the model of National Parks in the United States. In 1919, the mountain hotel of St. Bartolomew was built. In March 1921, the area was expanded to 20,400 hectares (50,000 acres). At the time, it included both the Watzmann and the Hochkalter. During World War II , Hermann Göring , who, among other responsibilities,

342-473: Was put forward. It clearly contradicted the plans for creation of a national park, and in the end it was abandoned in 1972 by the decision of the Free State of Bavaria, which also decided to create a national park. The park was opened on 1 August 1978, and had a total area of 208.08 square kilometres (80.34 sq mi). In 1990, the national park was recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. In 2010,

361-468: Was the State Minister of Forestry and Hunting, declared the area around Obersee a particularly protected natural conservation area. In addition, six areas formally protecting the fauna were designated. In practice, they were used for hunting. The initiative to create a national park was first introduced in 1953. In the 1960s, a concurrent initiative to build an aerial lift to the summit of Watzmann

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