Tauern
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The word ''Tauern'' () is German and originally meant 'high
mountain pass A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since mountain ranges can present formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both Human migration, human and animal migration t ...
' in the Austrian Central Alps, referring to the many
bridleway A bridle path, also bridleway, equestrian trail, horse riding path, ride, bridle road, or horse trail, is a trail or a thoroughfare that is used by people riding on horses. Trails originally created for use by horses often now serve a wider ...
s and passes of the parallel side valleys of the River Salzach that cut into the mountain ranges. From the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
, when
mining Mining is the Resource extraction, extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agriculture, agricultural processes, or feasib ...
reached its heyday, the word ''Tauern'' was also used to name the corresponding ranges. The name has survived in many local placenames today.


Etymology

The derivation of the name ''Tauern'' has been variously ascribed: * One view is that the name ''Tauern'' is an old substrate word (''*taur-'' for 'mountain‚
mountain pass A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since mountain ranges can present formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both Human migration, human and animal migration t ...
, crossing'), which passed directly (less probable) or via the
Slavic language The Slavic languages, also known as the Slavonic languages, are Indo-European languages spoken primarily by the Slavic peoples and their descendants. They are thought to descend from a proto-language called Proto-Slavic, spoken during the Ear ...
(more likely) into
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
. (The name ''Tauern'' is probably pre-Slavic, but there is also a common Slavic word, ''tur-'' 'swelling, ridge, elongated hillock', etc.).  * Another postulation is that the ''Tauern'' is the only mountain range that has kept its pre-Slavic name in Carinthia as it passed down the generations. It is derived from the Indo-Germanic ''*(s)teur-'' for 'bull; great hill'. The Tauern are so-to-speak the "bulls", the old ''
Taurisci The Taurisci were a federation of Celtic tribes who dwelt in today's Carinthia and northern Slovenia (Carniola) before the coming of the Romans (c. 200 BC). According to Pliny the Elder, they are the same as the people known as the Norici. Et ...
'' of Upper Carinthia, the mountain dwellers, with the old Upper Carinthian town of ''
Teurnia Teurnia (later Tiburnia) was a Roman Empire, Roman city (''municipium''). Today its ruins lie in western Carinthia (state), Carinthia. In Late Antiquity, late antiquity it was also a bishop's see, and towards the end of Roman times it was mention ...
'' being the corresponding mountain town. If the name ''Tauern'' is pre-Slavic, it could possibly be
Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language *Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Foot ...
, and thus presumably linked to the Taurisci, or it could be Illyrian, a collective term possibly for the pre- and early Celtic population in the Alpine region. There is no clear link with the name of the municipality of Thaur near Innsbruck, which could be analogous to the Illyrian for 'rock', but could also be derived from the Rhaeto-Romance word ''Tgaura'' 'goat'.


Ranges

There are several mountain ranges that bear the name ''Tauern'' today. In German, the first part of these names is usually the adjectival version of a placename. It is common in English sources, however, just to use the original name without the adjectival inflexion: *
High Tauern The High Tauern (plural, pl.; , ) are a mountain range on the Main chain of the Alps, main chain of the Central Eastern Alps, comprising the highest peaks east of the Brenner Pass. The crest forms the southern border of the Austrian states of Salz ...
(), often just called the ''Tauern''. * Low Tauern () with its subdivisions (from west to east): **
Radstadt Tauern The Radstadt Tauern () are a subrange of the Central Eastern Alps in Austria. Together with the Schladming Tauern, the Rottenmann and Wölz Tauern and the Seckau Tauern the Radstadt Tauern form the major range of mountains known as the Low Tauern ...
(), **
Schladming Tauern The Schladming Tauern''Outline of the geology of Austria and selected excursions'', Volumes 34-35. Geologische Bundesanstalt (Austria), 1980. pp. 62/3. . () are a subrange of the Austrian Central Alps within the Eastern Alps. Together with the Rad ...
(), **
Rottenmann and Wölz Tauern The Rottenmann and Wölz Tauern''Outline of the geology of Austria and selected excursions'', Volumes 34-35. Geologische Bundesanstalt (Austria), 1980. pp. 62/3 & 65. . () are a subrange of the Austrian Central Alps within the Eastern Alps. Toget ...
() ** Seckau Tauern (), * Ossiach Tauern, a ridge in the
Gurktal Alps The Gurktal Alps (, ) is a mountain range in the Central Eastern Alps in Austria which is named after the valley of the Gurk river. The range stretches west to Lake Millstatt and east to Neumarkter Sattel (north-northwest of Neumarkt in Steie ...
The High and Low Tauern together were historically called the Tauern Alps (''Tauernalpen'') and are still described as such in many sources today. They also extend to the
Brenner Pass The Brenner Pass ( , shortly ; ) is a mountain pass over the Alps which forms the Austria-Italy border, border between Italy and Austria. It is one of the principal passes of the Alps, major passes of the Eastern Alpine range and has the lowes ...
–Liesing/Palten valley, i.e. including the
Zillertal Alps The Zillertal Alps (; ) are a mountain range of the Central Eastern Alps on the border of Austria and Italy. Name The range is named after the Zillertal (Ziller river valley) on its north. Geography The range is bounded by the ''Tuxerjoch'' m ...
.


Transport links

The following transport links facilitate the crossing of the Tauern from north to south: * The Felbertauern Road (B108) which passes under the range through the Felbertauern Tunnel in the area of the Felber Tauern. * The
Tauern Railway The Tauern Railway () is an Austrian railway line between Schwarzach- Sankt Veit in the state of Salzburg and Spittal an der Drau in Carinthia. It is part of one of the most important north–south trunk routes (''Magistrale'') in Europe and als ...
passes under the mountains through the Tauern Tunnel between the Mallnitz Tauern and the High Tauern. This is the only north-south railway link between the
Brenner Pass The Brenner Pass ( , shortly ; ) is a mountain pass over the Alps which forms the Austria-Italy border, border between Italy and Austria. It is one of the principal passes of the Alps, major passes of the Eastern Alpine range and has the lowes ...
in the west and the Schober Pass in the east. * The
Großglockner High Alpine Road The Grossglockner High Alpine Road (in German ''Großglockner Hochalpenstraße'') is the highest surfaced mountain pass road in Austria. It connects Bruck in the state of Salzburg with Heiligenblut in Carinthia via Fuscher Törl at 2,428  ...
crosses over the Tauern in the area of the Hochtor mountain. * The
Tauern Autobahn The Tauern Autobahn (A 10) is an autobahn (motorway) in Austria. It starts at the Salzburg junction with the West Autobahn (A1), runs southwards, crosses the Tauern mountain range on the main chain of the Alps and leads to the Süd Autobahn ...
(A10) passes under the Radstadt Tauern. * The Katschberg Road (B99) crosses the Radstadt Tauern over the Radstadt Tauern Pass. * The Sölk Pass crosses the Low Tauern and delineates the boundary between the Schladming and the Wölz Tauern. * The Trieben Road (B114) crosses the Low Tauern at the village of Hohentauern and delineates the boundary between the Rottenmann and the Triebener (Seckau) Tauern.


Passes

The following passes bear the name Tauern (from west to east): * In the
High Tauern The High Tauern (plural, pl.; , ) are a mountain range on the Main chain of the Alps, main chain of the Central Eastern Alps, comprising the highest peaks east of the Brenner Pass. The crest forms the southern border of the Austrian states of Salz ...
they are all non-drivable
bridleway A bridle path, also bridleway, equestrian trail, horse riding path, ride, bridle road, or horse trail, is a trail or a thoroughfare that is used by people riding on horses. Trails originally created for use by horses often now serve a wider ...
s: ** The '' Krimmler Tauern'' (2,634 m) links the Krimmler Achental with the South Tyrolean
Ahrntal Ahrntal (; ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about northeast of the city of Bolzano (''Bozen''), near the border to Austria. Geography Ahrntal borders the following municipalities: Mühlwald, Prettau, ...
. ** The '' Felber Tauern'' or ''Windisch-Matrei Tauern'' (2,481 m) links the Pinzgau valley of Felbertal with the East Tyrolean Tauerntal, in the immediate vicinity of the ''Alten Tauern'' (2,498 m). ** The '' Kalser Tauern'' (2,518 m) links the Pinzgau valley of Stubachtal with the East Tyrolean Kalser Dorfer valley. ** The ''Heiligenbluter'' or ''Rauris Tauern'' (2,576 m), commonly called the '' Hochtor'', links the Pinzgau valley of the Fuscher Ache with the Carinthian Möll valley. ** The ''Goldberg'' or ''Fragant Tauern'' (2,754 m) links the Pinzgau Rauriser Tal with the Carinthian Fragant valley. ** The ''Low Tauern'', also '' Mallnitz Tauern'' and the ''High Tauern'' (2,459 m), also called the ''Korntauern'', link the Pinzgau valley of Gasteinertal with the Carinthian village of Mallnitz and the Möll valley. * In the Low Tauern: ** The ''
Radstadt Tauern The Radstadt Tauern () are a subrange of the Central Eastern Alps in Austria. Together with the Schladming Tauern, the Rottenmann and Wölz Tauern and the Seckau Tauern the Radstadt Tauern form the major range of mountains known as the Low Tauern ...
'' (1,738 m) links Radstadt in the Pongau with Mauterndorf in the Lungau via the two Taurach valleys. ** The '' Triebener Tauern'' (1,278 m), also called the ''Rottenmann Tauern'', links the Palten valley near Trieben with the Pöls valley. * In the
Kitzbühel Alps The Kitzbühel Alps ( or ''Kitzbühler Alpen'') are a mountain range of the Central Eastern Alps surrounding the town of Kitzbühel in Tyrol, Austria. Geologically they are part of the western slate zone ( greywacke zone). Location Two-thirds of ...
: ** ''Thurntauern'', today the Thurn Pass Corresponding to the passes there are also several places called '' Tauerntal'' ('Tauern valley'), '' Tauernbach'' ('Tauern stream') and '' Taurach'' ('Tauern river'), the latter sometimes descending from a Tauern pass in both directions.


Places

The following places also take their names from the term Tauern: * The Pongau municipality of Untertauern below the Radstadt Tauern Pass, * The winter sports village of
Obertauern Obertauern is a tourist destination which is located in the Radstädter Tauern in the Salzburger Land of Austria. The winter sports resort is separated in two communities: Tweng and Untertauern. Geography Obertauern lies in the southeast of th ...
on the Radstadt Tauern Pass, * The cadastral municipality of Untertauern from Ossiach by the Ossiach Tauern * The hamlet of Tauern in Ossiach * The village of Tauer in Matrei in Osttirol


Mountains

Several mountains, especially near the passes, bear names derived from the term Tauern: *''
Felber Tauernkogel The Tauernkogel (also ''Felber Tauernkogel'') is a mountain, {{Höhe, 2988, AT, link=true, in the Venediger Group of Austria's High Tauern. It lies west of the Felber Tauern and the border between the states of Land Salzburg, Salzburg and Tyrol (Bu ...
'' (2,988 m), west of the Felber Tauern pass in the
Venediger Group The Venediger Group () is a mountain range of the Central Eastern Alps. Together with the Granatspitze Group, the Glockner Group, the Goldberg Group, and the Ankogel Group, it forms the main ridge of the High Tauern. The highest peak is the Groß ...
. **''Tauernkopf'' (2,704 m), an insignificant subpeak on the eastern arête of the Felber Tauernkogel. * '' Krimmler Tauernkogel'' (2,872 m), near the Krimmler Tauern pass in the eastern
Zillertal Alps The Zillertal Alps (; ) are a mountain range of the Central Eastern Alps on the border of Austria and Italy. Name The range is named after the Zillertal (Ziller river valley) on its north. Geography The range is bounded by the ''Tuxerjoch'' m ...
, Salzburg–South Tyrolean border *''Tauernklammhöhe'' (2,798 m), an insignificant summit between the Hollersbachtal and the Felbertal in the Venediger Group. The ravine of ''Tauernklamm'' bisects its eastern flank. *'' Kalser Tauernkogel'' (2,683 m), northwest of the Kals Tauern in the
Granatspitze Group The Granatspitze Group (), sometimes also the Granatspitz Group, is a sub-group of the Central Alps within the Eastern Alps. Together with the Ankogel Group, the Goldberg Group, the Glockner Group, the Schober Group, the Kreuzeck Group, the Ven ...
. *''Tauernkopf'' (2,626 m),east of the Hochtor in the
Goldberg Group The Goldberg Group is a sub-group of the Hohe Tauern mountain range within the Central Eastern Alps. It is located in Austria, in the States of Austria, states of Salzburg (state), Salzburg and Carinthia (state), Carinthia. Its highest peak is the ...
. *'' Tauernkogel'' (2,249 m) in the Tennen Mountains, giving its name to the ''Tauernkogel Group''. * '' Funtenseetauern'' and '' Gotzentauern'' in the
Berchtesgaden Alps The Berchtesgaden Alps (, ) are a mountain range of the Northern Limestone Alps, named after the market town of Berchtesgaden located in the centre. It is crossed by the Austria–Germany border: the central part belongs to the Berchtesgadener Lan ...
.


Other usages

* The Tauern Ridgeway crosses the Ankogel and
Goldberg Group The Goldberg Group is a sub-group of the Hohe Tauern mountain range within the Central Eastern Alps. It is located in Austria, in the States of Austria, states of Salzburg (state), Salzburg and Carinthia (state), Carinthia. Its highest peak is the ...
s from Murtörl to the Heiligenbluter Hochtor. * Tauernmoossee, a lake in the Stubach valley * Hohe Tauern National Park * Tauernkraftwerke AG ( Kaprun Power Station) * Tauernsheck, a breed of Austrian goat


Literature

* August Prinzinger: ''Die Tauern.'' In: ''Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Salzburger Landeskunde'' (MGSLK) 7, 1867, S. 46-78 () * Heinrich Wallmann: In: ''Zeitschrift des Deutschen Alpenvereins'', Jahrgang 1869–70 (Band I), pp. 442–472. (Online at
ALO Alo or ALO may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Alo'' (film), a 2003 Bengali drama * Alo Creevey, a fictional character in TV series ''Skins'' ** "Alo" (''Skins series 5'') ** "Alo" (''Skins series 6'') * Animal Liberation Orchestra ...
). *Eberhard Kranzmayer: ''Ortsnamenbuch von Kärnten''. Band 1, Die Siedlungsgeschichte Kärntens von der Urzeit bis zur Gegenwart im Spiegel der Namen. Archiv für vaterländische Geschichte und Topographie, Band 50. Verlag des Geschichtsvereines für Kärnten, Klagenfurt 1956.  * Willi End, Hubert Peterka: ''Glocknergruppe und Granatspitzgruppe â€“ ein Führer für Täler, Hütten und Berge, verfaßt nach den Richtlinien der
UIAA The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, commonly known by its French name Union internationale des associations d'alpinisme (UIAA; ), was founded in August 1932 in Chamonix, France when 20 mountaineering associations met for ...
''. 8th, fully revised edition. Alpenvereinsführer, Zentralalpen. Bergverlag Rother, Munich, 1990, . * Willi End, Hubert Peterka (Begr.): ''Venedigergruppe â€“ mit nördlichen Deferegger Alpen (Panargenkamm, Lasörlingkamm). Alpenvereinsführer für Täler, Hütten und Berge, verfasst nach den Richtlinien der UIAA für Wanderer, Bergsteiger und Kletterer''. 5th, updated and fully revised edition. Alpenvereinsführer, Ostalpen. Bergverlag Rother, Munich, 2006, . * Heinz-Dieter Pohl: ''Die Bergnamen der Hohen Tauern''. OeAV-Dokumente, Vol. 6. Österreichischer Alpenverein, Fachabteilung Raumplanung-Naturschutz, Innsbruck 2009. Permalink ''Österreichischer Bibliothekenverbund''
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accessed on 27 March 2011.


References


External links

* {{Authority control Alps Mountain passes of the Alps Mountain passes of Austria Transport in Austria Economic history of Austria Hohe Tauern Schladming Tauern Rottenmann and Wölz Tauern Seckau Tauern Oronyms