Hochschwab

Hochschwab Mountain: 1) highest summit (2,277 m) in the Hochschwab massif; 2) massif of the Styrian Limestone Alps, 30 km long, extending over approx. 400 km² from west to east, south of the Salzatal valley, Upper Styria, reaches from the valley of the Erzbach stream to the Aflenzer Seeberg mountain; formerly also called "Schwab". 2,277 m high in the large karstic plateau of the Hochschwab massif; Ebenstein mountain (2,123 m), Großer Griesstein mountain (2,023 m); the northeastern extension is the Aflenzer Staritzen (Severinkogel, 2,038 m) and Zeller (Zinken, 1,619 m) Staritzen. Large population of chamois in the Alpine mountain chain, impressive precipices ("Mauern") and charming little mountain lakes: Sackwiesensee, Brunnsee, Grüner See, Pfarrerlacke, and the Lake Leopoldstein at its western foot. Numerous caves: Frauenmauer-Langstein cave system, Pfaffing dripstone cave, Langstein ice cave, etc. Varied Alpine flora (rose-bay, valerian, auricula). The springs of the 2^nd Vienna Spring Water Supply System lie in the Hochschwab area. Main villages: Tragöß, Aflenz health resort, Seewiesen, Weichselboden, Wildalpen and Eisenerz. Popular hiking and climbing region. Mountain refuges: Sonnschienhütte (1,523 m), Voitsthalerhütte (1,654 m), Schiestlhaus (2,153 m), Häuslalm (1,526 m), Bürgeralm-Naturfreundehaus (lifts).