The Krimmler Achen Valley is a high and isolated valley located in the Austrian federal state Salzburg, characterised by frequent marmot burrows in the deserted alpine soil. We can even say that it is a valley that marmots call home.
The valley begins with Krimml Waterfalls, the highest Austrian falls, with a total height of 385 m. The river Krimmler Achen then cascades down to the town of Kriml, over three levels.
Photo © Credits to egal
To the other end, the valley divides into two branches. The south-west branch is the only passable connection to South Tyrol and Italy. Historically, this connection had a special significance as a part of the transalpine traffic routes, used already by the Roman legions. Along the mule tracks, the goods such as wine, brandy and salt were carried across the mountains. South Tyrolean farmers use the crossing to this day to bring home their cattle from the Krimml pastures every year. However, one particular event made it famous worldwide. After the end of World War II, 8000 Eastern European Jewish survivors of the Holocaust were forbidden by the British occupation forces to reach the Italian ports, from where they would sail to Palestine, and therefore, they were smuggled through this valley to Italy.
The South-eastern branch ends at the glacier Krimmler Kees, located below the Dreiherrenspitze, a 3499-meter high mountain peak. The Krimmler Kees glacier with a surface of around 4.9 km² is the second largest in the Salzburg State. The river Krimmler Achen springs below it, at the altitude of about 2500 m. Here, you can find a natural wonder - glacier mill, a circular and vertical well-like shaft, located within the glacier and formed by its waters.
Photo © Credits to kavram
An isolated beauty
The Krimmler Achental is not populated. However, there are 15 mountain pastures, of which six-centuries old mountain inn - The Krimmler Tauernhaus, is the most famous and the biggest.
The U-shaped Krimmler Achen valley, scraped out by the glacier, is characterised by the wonderful alpine landscapes, beautiful thick pine forests, and small continental raised bogs. Besides the ice glacier, here you can find one of many rock glaciers, a mix of rubble, rocks and ground ice.
For tourists, the Krimmler Achen valley and its side valleys offer countless hiking and mountain biking possibilities. And if you are lucky, you can even spot rather shy marmots in the Krimmler Achen Valley, the valley that marmots call home.
The author
Ogi Savic
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