View of the Flexen Pass, a high mountain pass in the Austrian Alps . (31/5)
Keith Wickenton behind Austin Somerset.
The Tyrolean road is just 17 kilometres (10.5miles) long and passes through what has been described as “an inhospitable, wind-whipped place, more a cliff than a pass”. The pass has been open in winter since 1936 due to it being shielded from the danger of avalanches by protective covers.
Keith Wickenton behind Austin Somerset.
The Tyrolean road is just 17 kilometres (10.5miles) long and passes through what has been described as “an inhospitable, wind-whipped place, more a cliff than a pass”. The pass has been open in winter since 1936 due to it being shielded from the danger of avalanches by protective covers.
Another view of roofed sections of the Flexen Pass.(31/5)
A tunnel has since been bored through the mountain to carry the road.
A tunnel has since been bored through the mountain to carry the road.
Looking down the Klostertal Valley, Austrian Tyrol, from the Flexen Pass (31/5)
The popular holiday village of Stuben is in the foreground. The Flexen Pass reaches an elevation of 1773 metres (5816 feet).
The popular holiday village of Stuben is in the foreground. The Flexen Pass reaches an elevation of 1773 metres (5816 feet).
View from the Flexen Pass.(31/5)
Looking west, back down the Klostertal (valley). Stuben village in the foreground.
Looking west, back down the Klostertal (valley). Stuben village in the foreground.
The alpine village of Lech, Vorarlberg, Austria. (31/5)
At the time of the photo, this area of Austria was occupied by French forces, following the Second World War.
Lech is a popular resort for winter skiing . The church of St Nicholas, the spire of which can be seen, was built in 1390.
At the time of the photo, this area of Austria was occupied by French forces, following the Second World War.
Lech is a popular resort for winter skiing . The church of St Nicholas, the spire of which can be seen, was built in 1390.
Telfes and Mieders, in the Austrian Tyrol. (1/6)
They are in the Stubai Valley which also contains the villages of Schonberg, Neustift and Fulpmes. Together, they make up what’s called the Stubaital , a popular skiing district. A major attraction for skiers is the Stubai glacier at the end of the valley. This offers year-round skiing.
They are in the Stubai Valley which also contains the villages of Schonberg, Neustift and Fulpmes. Together, they make up what’s called the Stubaital , a popular skiing district. A major attraction for skiers is the Stubai glacier at the end of the valley. This offers year-round skiing.
At a hairpin bend of the road on the Arlberg Pass, above St. Anton.Austria. There has been a pass in the area since the 14th century. The old pass route then was in the form of a narrow mule track when people began to trade salt in this region. However, because the Arlberg was very poorly developed, for centuries people avoided the route and took detours over the Fern Pass or Immenstadt for trading. The development of the textile industry and of the postal service, however, led to the road being surfaced in 1824.
Soaring mountain peaks and a deep valley near Heiligenblut, Austria. (5/6)
A chapel at Heiligenblut (literally "holy blood") contains a relic claimed to be the Blood of Christ in a flask. According to legend, the flask was found on the body of a Danish knight crossing the Alps on his way home from a crusade. He was buried by an avalanche in 914.
A chapel at Heiligenblut (literally "holy blood") contains a relic claimed to be the Blood of Christ in a flask. According to legend, the flask was found on the body of a Danish knight crossing the Alps on his way home from a crusade. He was buried by an avalanche in 914.
Austrian Alps. (5/6)
Wild flowers and hut in the valley, by the road, near the start of the Hochalpenstrasse alpine road.
The road was built between 1930 and 1935 and reaches a height of 2572 metres (8438 ft).
Wild flowers and hut in the valley, by the road, near the start of the Hochalpenstrasse alpine road.
The road was built between 1930 and 1935 and reaches a height of 2572 metres (8438 ft).
Austrian Alps. (5/6)
View towards the Grossglockner mountain from the start of the Hochalpenstrasse, a high panoramic alpine road in the Austrian Alps. Alan Wickenton in the distance walking along the road.
View towards the Grossglockner mountain from the start of the Hochalpenstrasse, a high panoramic alpine road in the Austrian Alps. Alan Wickenton in the distance walking along the road.
Austrian Alps. (5/6)
Looking towards the Grossglockner mountains from near the 2nd hairpin bend on the Hochalpenstrasse,Austria.
Each hairpin bend on mountain road has been allocated a number.
Looking towards the Grossglockner mountains from near the 2nd hairpin bend on the Hochalpenstrasse,Austria.
Each hairpin bend on mountain road has been allocated a number.
Austrian Alps. (5/6)
A view of the Grossglockner mountains, from hairpin bend Number 2 of the Hochalpenstrasse alpine road.
Some 1.2 million people travel this road each year in the Austrian Alps.
A view of the Grossglockner mountains, from hairpin bend Number 2 of the Hochalpenstrasse alpine road.
Some 1.2 million people travel this road each year in the Austrian Alps.
Austrian Alps. (5/6)
Austin Somerset on the second hairpin bend of the Hochalpenstrasse, a high panoramic alpine road in the Austrian Alps.
In 1952, the road was not open in winter.
Austin Somerset on the second hairpin bend of the Hochalpenstrasse, a high panoramic alpine road in the Austrian Alps.
In 1952, the road was not open in winter.
Mountain Lookout.Austria. (5/6)
Looking across the Franz Josef Glacier to Grossglockner Mountain from a lookout point, off the Hochalpenstrasse, in the Austrian Alps. The glacier is now known as
Pasterze Glacier .
Looking across the Franz Josef Glacier to Grossglockner Mountain from a lookout point, off the Hochalpenstrasse, in the Austrian Alps. The glacier is now known as
Pasterze Glacier .
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The Franz Josef ( Pasterze ) Glacier, Austria. (5/6)
The camera is looking up towards Johannisberg a 3453 metre high (11,330ft) mountain in the Austrian Alps.
Austria’s glaciers have been steadily diminishing since 1852, but particularly in the past few decades.
The camera is looking up towards Johannisberg a 3453 metre high (11,330ft) mountain in the Austrian Alps.
Austria’s glaciers have been steadily diminishing since 1852, but particularly in the past few decades.
Franz Josef ( Pasterze ) Glacier. (5/6)
Looking across the Franz Josef Glacier to Grossglockner mountain, 3,798 m (12,500 ft) above sea level, and Austria's highest mountain.
Austria’s glaciers are melting dramatically. In 2011 this glacier retreated by more than 40 metres (131ft).
Looking across the Franz Josef Glacier to Grossglockner mountain, 3,798 m (12,500 ft) above sea level, and Austria's highest mountain.
Austria’s glaciers are melting dramatically. In 2011 this glacier retreated by more than 40 metres (131ft).
On the Franz Josef ( Pasterze ) Glacier, Austria. (5/6)
Arthur Shannon on the glacier.
Austria’s glaciers are the remnants of the last Ice Age. They are now starting to shrink faster than ever.
Arthur Shannon on the glacier.
Austria’s glaciers are the remnants of the last Ice Age. They are now starting to shrink faster than ever.
On the Franz Josef ( Pasterze ) Glacier, Austria. (5/6)
Keith Wickenton (L) and Alan Wickenton standing on the glacier. Note the curved surface of the ice.
Scientists believe that all of Austria’s glaciers will not exist by about the mid 2040s.
Keith Wickenton (L) and Alan Wickenton standing on the glacier. Note the curved surface of the ice.
Scientists believe that all of Austria’s glaciers will not exist by about the mid 2040s.
Fulpmes and the Stubai Valley (Stubaital) , in the Tyrol, Austria. (2/6)
The town is one of Austria’s prime resorts in winter. A rococo style parish church , built in the mid-1700s, is a feature of Fulpmes.
The town is one of Austria’s prime resorts in winter. A rococo style parish church , built in the mid-1700s, is a feature of Fulpmes.
Fulpmes, Austria.(2/6)
“Pension Sonklar”,is a guesthouse in the Tyrolean village. Similar types of decorative wall paintings are popular throughout the Tyrol and other regions of Austria.
“Pension Sonklar”,is a guesthouse in the Tyrolean village. Similar types of decorative wall paintings are popular throughout the Tyrol and other regions of Austria.
In Fulpmes, Austrian Tyrol. (2/6)
A village spring, and apricot trees trained against a wall.
A village spring, and apricot trees trained against a wall.
Fulpmes , Austrian Tyrol. (2/6)
The tower of St.Vitus, the parish church ,is prominent throughout the village. The church was built in 1746/47.
The tower of St.Vitus, the parish church ,is prominent throughout the village. The church was built in 1746/47.
Fulpmes village and the Stubai Valley, Austrian Tyrol. (2/6)
The photo is from hills on the side of the valley. Fulpmes is at an altitude of 936 metres (3070ft). It is the centre of iron production, as well as a prime snow sports resort.
The photo is from hills on the side of the valley. Fulpmes is at an altitude of 936 metres (3070ft). It is the centre of iron production, as well as a prime snow sports resort.
Fulpmes (2/6)
Another view of Fulpmes from the hills to the east. It's a typical Tyrolean small village with the church spire as its central feature.
Another view of Fulpmes from the hills to the east. It's a typical Tyrolean small village with the church spire as its central feature.
A view along the Stubai Valley, from hills west of the village of Fulpmes in the Austrian Tyrol. (1/6)
The village seen in the photo is Medraz, where there are mineral springs.
The village seen in the photo is Medraz, where there are mineral springs.
Looking up the valley of the River Inn, Austrian Tyrol.(31/5)
Seen in the left foreground of this photo is the village of Seifeld.
The settlement of Seifeld was first documented in 1022 , and has existed as a farming village for centuries. With more than one million overnight stays each year, it is one of the most popular Tyrolean tourist destinations offering skiing in winter and walking holidays in summer.
Seen in the left foreground of this photo is the village of Seifeld.
The settlement of Seifeld was first documented in 1022 , and has existed as a farming village for centuries. With more than one million overnight stays each year, it is one of the most popular Tyrolean tourist destinations offering skiing in winter and walking holidays in summer.
The church in the village of Mieders, in the Austrian Tyrol.(2/6)
The building dates from the 16th century and its Gothic spire is 53 metres (174 ft.) high.
The building dates from the 16th century and its Gothic spire is 53 metres (174 ft.) high.