The Hohe Tauern is a long chain of mountains in Austria and is home to the largest glaciers in the eastern Alps.
The Hohe Tauern measures over 100 km in length and is 40 km wide. Its mountains mark the border between Salzburg to the north and East Tyrol and Carinthia to the south. Going from one region to the other requires passing the Hohe Tauern, therefore its name translates into ‘High (mountain) Passes’.
Hohe Tauern hosts Austria’s biggest National Park. So there is lots of nature, but also many visitors. Glaciers are not among the most crowded places, though. Except for Pasterze glacier, the biggest one in this part of the Alps. A paved road was even specially constructed for easy access to the glacier. But this glacier is hardly worth a visit anymore, as the once mighty mass of ice is almost completely melted because of global warming.
Those who want to see glaciers in the Hohe Tauern better turn to Grossvenediger and surroundings, although its glaciers are of course also diminishing. In a few decades, the National Park will be practically be free of ice, with important consequences for tourism, water supply and nature.
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