Experience the impressive effect of the torrents: from round washouts to majestic waterfalls - a landscape shaped by the power of water. In the Hohe Tauern, torrents make their way through hard rock, forming round washouts, scours and whirlpools as well as impressive waterfalls. The gorge features arise as long as the steep side slopes remain stable.
The rocks, mainly from the Wildschönau slate, are almost 500 million years old and tectonically assigned to the Upper Eastern Alpine. However, the soft shales are susceptible to weathering, favoring V-shaped valleys and rounded peaks. Slate formations do not allow deep gorges to form, which is why side slopes often slide.
Disasters such as mudflows and floods force the stream to be blocked and retention barriers to be built to protect the towns. The forest also plays a crucial role in protecting against erosion. Maple-ash forests or gray alder slope forests stabilize the slopes and minimize the risk of mudslides and landslides. Protective measures such as avoiding clear-cutting and promoting natural forest communities are crucial for the preservation and stability of the mountain landscape.