List of highest mountains of Germany

This is a list of the highest mountains in Germany. All of these mountains are located in the federal state of Bavaria. They lie within the Alps in the region known as the Eastern Alps and are part of the Northern Limestone Alps. The majority belong to the mountain ranges of the Wetterstein, Berchtesgaden Alps and Allgäu Alps.

Location of the highest major summits in Germany

Because the definition of a mountain is not universally agreed upon, a distinction is made between main summits and other peaks. Subsidiary summits or subpeaks are not counted. In the Alps a summit is classed as independent, according to the UIAA definition, if it has a prominence of 30 metres (98 ft) or more. In order for a peak to qualify as an independent mountain, however, it must have a prominence of at least 300 metres (980 ft).[1] Based on this definition only the main summits of entire mountain massifs are counted. All elevations with a prominence below 30 metres (98 ft) are considered as subpeaks.[2]

By these definitions, the highest mountains in Germany are the Zugspitze (2,962 m or 9,718 ft), Hochwanner (2,746 m or 9,009 ft) and Watzmann (Middle Peak, 2,713 m or 8,901 ft). If all independent summits are counted, the Zugspitze is followed by the Schneefernerkopf (2,875 m or 9,432 ft) and the Middle Wetterspitze (2,747 m or 9,012 ft) in places two and three. Both are however, part of the Zugspitze massif and lie relatively close to the summit of the Zugspitze itself.

The highest mountain which lies entirely on German soil is the Watzmann with a height of 2,713 metres (8,901 ft), followed by the Hochkalter (2,607 m or 8,553 ft), the Großer Daumen (2,280 m or 7,480 ft) and the Höfats (2,259 m or 7,411 ft). Likewise fully on German territory, but considerably less independent, are the Middle Höllentalspitze (2,742 m) and the Hochblassen (2,703 m).

A majority of the summits were verifiably climbed in the 19th century; the Watzmann and Hoher Göll for example as early as 1800. The Zugspitze was officially climbed for the first time in 1820. However, there are many peaks of which it is suspected had been climbed in earlier times by unknown climbers.

Because the borders of Germany have often changed during the course of the centuries, there were different "highest mountains" in the past. For example, during the time of the Holy Roman Empire up to 1806, the Ortler in present-day South Tyrol, at 3,905 m (12,812 ft), was the highest German mountain. During the colonial period to 1918 Mount Kilimanjaro in the colony of German East Africa, at 5,895 m (19,341 ft), was officially the highest mountain of the German Reich. During the Nazi era from 1938 to 1945 this title went to the Großglockner which, at 3,797 m (12,457 ft), is today the highest mountain in Austria.

  • Ranking: The ranking of the peak within Germany in terms of height.
  • Photograph: Photograph of the mountain.
  • Peak: Name of the peak.
  • Height: Height of the mountain in metres.
  • Mountain range: Mountain range in which the mountain lies.
  • Massif: (table 1) Gives the name of the massif to which the mountain belongs. If the massif is named after a linked main peak, the link is omitted here.
  • Location: (table 2) DE = mountain lies entirely on German territory; DE/AT = mountain lies in the area of the border between Germany and Austria, but the peak at least is on German state territory.
  • Isolation: The isolation describes the radius of the area which the mountain dominates. Given in kilometres including the reference point.
  • Prominence: The prominence is the height difference between height of the summit and the highest point to which one must descend in order to climb a higher peak. Given in metres including the reference point.
  • First climb: Name of the first climber and date. Empty field indicates that the first climber or the date is not known.

There may be differences in data from other sources. The tables use the tables of the German height reference system, based on height above Normalnull (~sea level) in Amsterdam, and data from the Bavarian Survey Office (Bayerischen Vermessungsverwaltung).[3]

The highest summits

edit

Table 1 below shows the 30 highest independent summits in Germany. A summit or peak requires a prominence of over 30 metres (98 ft) in order to count as independent.

By clicking on the symbols at the head of the table the individual columns may be sorted.

Ranking
Photograph Peak Height
m (ft)
Mountain range Massif Isolation
km (mi)
Prominence
m (ft)
First climb
1   Zugspitze 2,962 (9,718) Wetterstein Zugspitze 24.6 (15.3)
Acherkogel
1,746 (5,728)
West of the Fernpass
27.08.1820
Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl, Acolyte Maier1
2   Schneefernerkopf 2,874 (9,429) Wetterstein Zugspitze 1.7 (1.1)
Zugspitze
175 (574)
Schneeferner wind-gap
1871
Hermann von Barth
3   Middle Wetterspitze 2,750 (9,020) Wetterstein Zugspitze 0.6 (0.37)
Schneefernerkopf
67 (220)
Wind-gap to the Schneefernerkopf
4   Hochwanner 2,744 (9,003) Wetterstein Hochwanner 5.5 (3.4)
Zugspitze
701 (2,300)
Feldernjöchl
1870
Hermann von Barth
5   Middle Höllentalspitze 2,743 (8,999) Wetterstein Zugspitze 1.6 (0.99)
Zugspitze
116 (381)
Jubiläum arête wind-gap to the Zugspitze
1871
Hermann von Barth
6   Inner Höllentalspitze 2,741 (8,993) Wetterstein Zugspitze 0.6 (0.37)
Middle Höllentalspitze
90 (300)
Wind-gap to the Middle Höllentalspitze
09.09.1871
Hermann von Barth
7   Outer Höllentalspitze 2,720 (8,920) Wetterstein Zugspitze 0.6 (0.37)
Middle Höllentalspitze
35 (115)3
Wind-gap to the Middle Höllentalspitze
1871
Hermann von Barth
8   Watzmann Middle Peak 2,713 (8,901) Berchtesgaden Alps Watzmann 15.9 (9.9)
Hochseiler
939 (3,081)
Trischübel Pass
Aug. 1800
Valentin Stanič
9   Watzmann South Peak 2,712 (8,898) Berchtesgaden Alps Watzmann 0.8 (0.50)
Watzmann Middle Peak
110 (360)3
Watzmann arête wind-gap
1832
Peter Carl Thurwieser
10   Hochblassen 2,703 (8,868) Wetterstein Zugspitze 1.1 (0.68)
Outer Höllentalspitze
143 (469)
Falsche Grießkar wind-gap
25.08.1871
Hermann von Barth, Peter Klaisl
11   Wetterwandeck 2,698 (8,852) Wetterstein Zugspitze 0.5 (0.31)
Southern Wetterspitze
30 (98)
Wind-gap to the Eastern Wetterspitze
12   Leutascher Dreitorspitze 2,682 (8,799) Wetterstein Dreitorspitze 5.2 (3.2)
Hochwanner
346 (1,135)
Western Wang wind-gap
07.08.1871
Hermann von Barth
13   Eastern Plattspitze 2,680 (8,790) Wetterstein Zugspitze 1.1 (0.68)
Wetterwandeck
204 (669)
Wetter wind-gap
1871
Hermann von Barth
14 Hinterreintalschrofen 2,669 (8,757) Wetterstein Hochwanner 1.5 (0.93)
Hochwanner
109 (358)
Teufel arête wind-gap to the Hochwanner
01.09.1871
Hermann von Barth
15   Hochfrottspitze 2,649 (8,691) Allgäu Alps Hohes Licht 2.2 (1.4)
Hohes Licht
203 (666)
Sock valley wind-gap
16.06.1869
Hermann von Barth
16   Mädelegabel 2,645 (8,678) Allgäu Alps Hohes Licht 0.4 (0.25)
Hochfrottspitze
81 (266)
Wind-gap to the Hochfrottspitze
1852
Oskar Sendtner[4]4
17   Partenkirchner Dreitorspitze 2,633 (8,638) Wetterstein Dreitorspitze 0.5 (0.31)
Leutascher Dreitorspitze
100 (330)3
Wind-gap to the Leutascher Dreitorspitze
20.07.1854
Jakob Grasegger, Karl Kiendl
18   Alpspitze 2,628 (8,622) Wetterstein Zugspitze 0.8 (0.50)
Hochblassen
165 (541)
Grießkar wind-gap
1825
J. Burger
19 Vollkarspitze 2,618 (8,589) Wetterstein Zugspitze 0.5 (0.31)
Hochblassen
40 (130)3
Wind-gap to the Höllentalspitzen
1897
Ferdinand Henning2
20   Bockkarkopf 2,609 (8,560) Allgäu Alps Hohes Licht 0.6 (0.37)
Hochfrottspitze
106 (348)
Bockkar wind-gap
21   Hochkalter 2,607 (8,553) Berchtesgaden Alps Hochkalter 4.5 (2.8)
Watzmann
621 (2,037)
Wimbach wind-gap
22   Northeastern Dreitorspitze 2,605 (8,547) Wetterstein Dreitorspitze 0.2 (0.12)
Dreitorspitze
40 (130)3
Wind-gap to the Dreitorspitze
23   Biberkopf 2,599 (8,527) Allgäu Alps Biberkopf 3.5 (2.2)
Hohes Licht
337 (1,106)
Große Stein wind-gap
18535
24   Trettachspitze 2,595 (8,514) Allgäu Alps Hohes Licht 0.4 (0.25)
Mädelegabel
140 (460)3
Wind-gap to the Mädelegabel
Aug 1855
Urban, Alois and Mathias Jochum
25   Großer Hundstod 2,593 (8,507) Berchtesgaden Alps Großer Hundstod 4.5 (2.8)
Watzmann
474 (1,555)
Dießbach wind-gap
1825
Karl Thurwieser
26   Hochvogel 2,592 (8,504) Allgäu Alps Hochvogel 5.4 (3.4)
Urbeleskarspitze
572 (1,877)
Hornbachjoch
1832
Trobitus
27   Funtenseetauern 2,578 (8,458) Berchtesgaden Alps Selbhorn 4 (2.5)
Selbhorn
220 (720)
Hochbrunnsulzen
ca. 1865
Johann Grill, Albert Kaindl
28   Öfnerspitze 2,576 (8,451) Allgäu Alps Großer Krottenkopf 0.7 (0.43)
Großer Krottenkopf
161 (528)3
Wind-gap to the Großen Krottenkopf
18545
29   Schüsselkarspitze 2,551 (8,369) Wetterstein Dreitorspitze 0.3 (0.19)
Leutascher Dreitorspitze
60 (200)3
Wind-gap to the Leutascher Dreitorspitze
1894
A. Moser, O. Schuster
30   Krottenspitze 2,551 (8,369) Allgäu Alps Großer Krottenkopf 0.3 (0.19)
Öfnerspitze
78 (256)
Wind-gap to the Öfnerspitze
  • 1 First recorded climb. Historic maps from the 18th century suggest that the Zugspitze had already been climbed before 1770.[5]
  • 2 Year of the first complete crossing of the Jubiläums arête.
  • 3 Exact value unknown as no survey has been carried out. Estimate based on contours from a topographical map.
  • 4 First recorded climb. It is possible that it had been climbed during survey work in 1818 or work by a border commission in 1835
  • 5 As part of a survey

The highest mountains

edit

Table 2 below shows the 21 highest mountains in Germany. A mountain is considered to be the main summit of a massif if its prominence is more than 300 metres (980 ft).

By clicking the symbols at the head of the table the individual column may be sorted.

Ranking
Photograph Peak Height
m (ft)
Mountain range4 Location Isolation
km (mi)
Prominence
m (ft)
First climb
Date
1   Zugspitze 2,962 (9,718) Wetterstein DE/AT 24.6 (15.3)
Acherkogel
1,746 (5,728)
West of the Fernpass
Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl, Acolyte Maier1 27.08.1820
2   Hochwanner 2,744 (9,003) Wetterstein DE/AT 5.5 (3.4)
Zugspitze
701 (2,300)
Feldernjöchl
Hermann von Barth 1870
3   Watzmann Middle Peak 2,713 (8,901) Berchtesgaden Alps DE 15.9 (9.9)
Hochseiler
939 (3,081)
Trischübel Pass
Valentin Stanič Aug 1800
4   Leutascher Dreitorspitze 2,682 (8,799) Wetterstein DE/AT 5.2 (3.2)
Hochwanner
346 (1,135)
Western Wang wind-gap
Hermann von Barth 07.08.1871
5   Hochkalter 2,607 (8,553) Berchtesgaden Alps DE 4.5 (2.8)
Watzmann
621 (2,037)
Wimbach wind-gap
6   Biberkopf 2,599 (8,527) Allgäu Alps DE/AT 3.5 (2.2)
Hohes Licht
337 (1,106)
Große Stein wind-gap
18532
7   Großer Hundstod 2,593 (8,507) Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 4.5 (2.8)
Watzmann
474 (1,555)
Dießbach wind-gap
Karl Thurwieser 1825
8   Hochvogel 2,592 (8,504) Allgäu Alps DE/AT 5.4 (3.4)
Urbeleskarspitze
572 (1,877)
Hornbachjoch
Trobitus 1832
9   Östliche Karwendelspitze 2,538 (8,327) Karwendel DE/AT 3.5 (2.2)
Middle Ödkarspitze
736 (2,415)
Hochalm Saddle
Hermann von Barth 04.07.1870
10   Hocheisspitze 2,523 (8,278) Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 3 (1.9)
Hochkalter
410 (1,350)
Sittersbach wind-gap
Hermann von Barth 06.09.1868
11   Hoher Göll 2,522 (8,274) Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 11.4 (7.1)
Watzmann
788 (2,585)
Torrener Joch
Valentin Stanič 04.09.1800
12   Hochkarspitze 2,482 (8,143) Karwendel DE/AT 42 (26)
Pleisenspitze
661 (2,169)
Bäralp Saddle
Hermann von Barth 1870
13   Großes Teufelshorn 2,361 (7,746) Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 3.8 (2.4)
Reißhorn
339 (1,112)
Blühnbachtörl
14   Kahlersberg 2,350 (7,710) Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 4.8 (3.0)
Großes Teufelshorn
335 (1,099)3
East of the Hintere Bärengrube
F. v. Schilcher, G. Helblehen 1854
15   Stadelhorn 2,286 (7,500) Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 5.2 (3.2)
Wasserwandkopf
1,133 (3,717)
Hirschbichl Pass
Karl Thurwieser 1825
16   Großer Daumen 2,280 (7,480) Allgäu Alps DE 6.4 (4.0)
Kesselspitze
350 (1,150)
Höfatsblick summit station
17   Höfats 2,257 (7,405) Allgäu Alps DE 2.7 (1.7)
Großer Wilder
477 (1,565)
Älple Saddle
Otto Sendtner 1848
18   Soiernspitze 2,257 (7,405) Karwendel DE 3.8 (2.4)
Wörner
833 (2,733)
West of the Vereiner-Alm
19   Hoher Ifen 2,229 (7,313) Allgäu Alps DE/AT 7.7 (4.8)
Elferkopf
476 (1,562)
Gerach Saddle
20   Große Arnspitze 2,196 (7,205) Wetterstein DE/AT 3.9 (2.4)
Upper Wetterstein peak
1,003 (3,291)
Northwest of Neuleutasch
21   Kreuzspitze 2,185 (7,169) Ammergau Alps DE 10.6 (6.6)
Daniel
1,182 (3,878)
Upper Schellbach valley
  • 1 First recorded climb. Historic maps from the 18th century suggest that the Zugspitze had already been climbed before 1770.[5]
  • 2 As part of a survey
  • 3 Exact value not known, because it has not been surveyed. Estimate based on contours from a topographical map.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Or a prominence of 100m according to other authorities.
  2. ^ "The Viertausender of the Alpen – Offizielles UIAA-Verzeichnis" (PDF) (in German). UIAA. March 1994. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  3. ^ Bayerische Vermessungsverwaltung. "Bayernviewer". Bayerische Staatsregierung. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  4. ^ "Von Abenteurern and Bergpionieren". allgaeuer-anzeigeblatt.de. 2005. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  5. ^ a b Andrea Händel (2006). "Historische Zugspitzkarte". alpenverein.de. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2009.

Literature

edit
  • DAV-Karte: 4/3 Wetterstein und Mieminger Kette, eastern sheet (1:25,000). 2005
  • DAV-Karte: 5/1 Karwendel, western sheet (1:25,000). 2005
  • DAV-Karte: 5/2 Karwendel, middle sheet (1:25,000). 2000
  • DAV-Karte: 10/1 Steinernes Meer (1:25,000). 2006
  • Kompass Wander-, Bike- and Skitourenkarte: Blatt 3 Allgäu Alps, Kleinwalsertal (1:50.000). Kompass-Karten, Innsbruck 2005, ISBN 978-3-85491-005-3
  • Kompass Wander-, Bike and Skitourenkarte: Blatt 03 Oberstdorf, Kleinwalsertal (1:25.000). Kompass-Karten, Innsbruck 2009, ISBN 978-3-85491-231-6
  • Kompass Wander-, Bike and Skitourenkarte: Blatt 25 Zugspitze, Mieminger Kette (1:50.000). Kompass-Karten, Innsbruck 2008, ISBN 978-3-85491-026-8
edit