Solid mass of Lechquellen

The massive of Lechquellen is a solid mass of the septentrional Préalpes Eastern. It rises in Austria (Vorarlberg). It gives its source to the Lech, which originates in the name of the solid mass.

The Grosse Wildgrubenspitze is the culminating point of the solid mass.

Geography

Situation

The solid mass is surrounded by the the Alps d' Allgäu in the North-East, the the Alps de Lechtal in the east, the Massif of Verwall in the south, the Rätikon in south-west and the Massif of Bregenzerwald in the North-West.

It is located at the south of the collar of Hochtannberg and the west of the collar of Flexen.

Landscapes

The solid mass of Lechquellen is a territory of contrasts, alternating between soft landscapes in the North-East inclined towards the valley of the Lech running out until the the Danube, and of the abrupt throats belonging to the basin of the the Rhine. The watershed is in the shape of horseshoe and constantly moved (in times geologically short), more and more of brooks slipping by towards the Rhine.

A similar phenomenon is observed in the south and the west of the sources of the Danube.

Consequently occasion, the watershed counts more the high summits which fall to the North-West against the Bregenzerwald.

The climate of the area is rainy and fresh, the mountains are extraordinarily provided in snow and often covered until late in summer. In spite of that, there does not exist almost any more any Glacier.

The vegetation is rather not very abundant; the pine S and the Alder S, very resistant to the Avalanche S, dominate. The border of the alpine stage is low, in the neighborhoods of 1700 - 1800 meters. One still finds some trees isolated around 1900 meters. The varieties of flowers are abundant.

Principal Summits

Large Wildgrubenspitze, 2753 m
Rote Wand, 2704 m
Grosser Grätlisgrat, 2702 m
Mittlere Wildgrubenspitze, 2696 m
Nadel, 2685 m
Spuller Schafberg, 2679 m
Roggalspitze, 2672 m
Wasenspitze, 2665 m
Braunarlspitze, 2649 m
Hochlicht, 2600 m
Mohnenfluh, 2542 m
Karhorn, 2416 m
Zitterklapfen, 2403 m
Hochkünzelspitze, 2397 m
Feuerstein, 2271 m
Warther Horn, 2257 m
Gamsfreiheit, 2211 m

Geology

Geologically, the solid mass of Lechquellen is composed mainly of Dolomite and Calcaire, as well as marl of the Lias.

Origin of the name

Lech is the name of the principal river which takes its source in the solid mass but also of one of the principal cities to the periphery of the solid mass. Quellen means " gonfler".

However, Lechquellen name cannot be realistic any more, considering most of the solid mass embraces the high valley of Lech and its two affluents which form its source: Formarinbach and Spullerbach. However, it is about an artistic concept, created by Walther Flaig, a famous alpine author, at the time where the alpinistic development of the the Alps was already concluded mainly. Front, the solid mass was indicated by the name the Alps de Klostertal or was associated with the the Alps de Lechtal with the east of the collar of Flexen.

Certain artistic concepts have evil to be essential in the everyday usage. On the contrary, certain alpine solid masses bear the same name since centuries, even of the millenia, such as for example the Râtikon or the close Verwall. Or then their designation is done according to a surrounding, known valley for a long time, such as for example the the Alps of Ötztal. That could take decades before the massive name of Lechquellen is essential naturally in its turn. It could just as easily disappear obscurely or be officialized if the International union of associations of alpinism or the European Union works out a division recognized universally of the Alps.

While waiting, the definition suggested here corresponds mainly to the manner of sight of the mountaineers and the tourists of German-speaking space (without Switzerland), as it evolved/moved during the decades.

History

The valleys were populated by the Walser, a linguistic root which one finds in many family names tyroliennes.

Historically, the economy of the mountain pastures dominated, supplanted today by tourism, in particular winter related to the ski.

Activities

Winter sports resorts

Environment

The Réserve of biosphere of the valley of the Walsertal Gross is also spread out over part of the solid mass of Lechquellen. The measurements required by UNESCO within the framework of the classification in principal zone are particularly interesting. In the solid mass two of greatest principal zones are the: Gadental and the area of Faludriga Nova.

The forests any more are not exploited since years by the forestry activities. Today, in this way, they offer an image become rare in Préalpes Eastern septentrional of an D-appropriation of space by nature, with trees of all the ages and even much of deadwood which strews the ground. In the future, the value of these areas could increase more further for nature and also tourism.

Natural reserves:

Gadental, 1987, 1336 ha
Gipslöcher Oberlech, 1988, 21 ha
Bödener Magerwiesen, 1991, 16,5 ha
Faludriga Nova, 2003

forestry Reserve:

Körbersee, 1958, 451 ha

Space Natura 2000:

Bergwälder Klostertal
Gadental, 1995, 1543,77 ha

Access

The solid mass is relatively closed and difficult of access by traditional transport (narrow regulated roads carrying out however until nearly 2000 meters of altitude). On the other hand, of the Ski-lift S and the Funiculaire S allow to go up towards the tops, particularly since Lech and Zürs. The development is ideal for the walker, by a system of refuges connected by footpaths. They follow the " iron with cheval" constituted by the peaks, but supposes, especially apart from the summer, a good experiment in alpinism.

The south-west of the solid mass is served by the Arlbergbahn , a Railroad connecting Innsbruck to Bludenz, only having a East-West axis in Austria, built at the end of the 19th century. It is fed by the electric current generated by the hydraulic power and provided by water of the Lake Spuller which is 700 meters with the top of the valley.

Geography of the Eastern Alps

Sources

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