Rätikon

Rätikon Mountains (Rhätikon), mountains in Vorarlberg, Liechtenstein and Graubünden/Grisons (Switzerland), between Montafon Valley and Prätigau. Geologically the end of western and eastern Alps, they have a multifarious structure. In the north they consist of the western spurs of the Northern Limestone Alps with Schesaplana Mountain (alt. 2,965 m), Brandner Glacier and lake Lünersee (alt. 1,970 m), in the east of gneiss and the amphibolite forming part of the Silvretta nappe and in the south, in Swiss territory of flysch; their ridge with the Sulzfluh (alt. 2,818 m) and Drusenfluh peaks (alt. 2,827 m) consists of Sulzfluh limestone. The largest valleys on Austrian territory are Gampadels Valley, Gauer Valley, Rells Valley, Brandner Valley and Gamperdona Valley. The most important passes are Plasseggen Pass (alt. 2,354 m), Schweizertor pass (alt. 2,137 m) and Cavell saddle (alt. 2,239 m). The mountains are only glaciated to a small extent (Brandner Glacier on Schesaplana Mountain). Lakes: Lake Lünersee (reservoir), Lake Gandasee, Lake Tobelsee, Lake Tilisunasee etc. Vast climbing region providing all degrees of difficulty; Schesaplana Mountain is protected by law. Mountain railways, chairlifts and inclined lifts: Schafbergbahn (in Gargellen), Golmerbahn (in Latschau near Tschagguns), Lünerseebahn (in Brand near Bludenz). Main towns and villages: Feldkirch, Bludenz, Brand, Schruns, Tschagguns, Gargellen. Mountain refuges: Mannheimer Hütte (Straßburger Hütte, alt. 2,679 m), Tilisunahütte (alt. 2,208 m), Lindauer Hütte (alt. 1,744 m) etc.