Field trip 1, 23^rd September 2024 (Full day)

Engineering Geology - Großglockner Hochalpenstraße

Guide: Gert Furtmüller

The Grossglockner Hochalpenstraße leads over approx. 45 kilometers into the high alpine landscape up to an altitude of almost 2.400 meters and has been an Austrian landmark for around 90 years. The listed road leads through the Hohe Tauern National Park. On this field trip, for which a whole day is planned, a profile is traversed from Salzburg through the Northern Limestone Alps, the graywacke zone and ultimately various units of the Tauern Window. The construction of the Tauern Window and the challenge of maintaining and protecting the road in this high alpine region are also part of the excursion. The protection against gravitational natural hazards in a time of rapidly changing climatic conditions (heat days, permafrost & heavy precipitation) and on the other hand the preservation of the road in this sensitive landscape will be visited and discussed on site using several examples.

Planned stops include e.g. the i) Franz Josefs Höhe with a view of the Grossglockner and Pasterze, ii) Hochtor and iii) Fuscher Törl