Bärenschützklamm
Walkways across a waterfall
Bärenschützklamm is located in Austria
Bärenschützklamm
Bärenschützklamm
Location within Austria
Floor elevation750 m (2,460 ft)[1]
Depth300 m (980 ft)
Geology
Age400 Myr
Geography
CountryAustria
StateStyria
DistrictPernegg an der Mur
Coordinates47°20′31″N 15°23′41″E / 47.34194°N 15.39472°E / 47.34194; 15.39472 
RiverMixnitzbach ("Mixnitz Creek")

The Bärenschützklamm ("Bärenschütz Gorge") is a narrow valley in the Graz Highlands in the Austrian Central Alps. It was carved out of limestone by the Mixnitzbach ("Mixnitz Creek") and is a popular tourist destination.

It has been closed to the public for reconstruction and enhancements of walkways and safety features after a deadly rockfall in 2020 and is scheduled to be reopened in May 2024.

Name

Bären-Schütz-Klamm literally translates to "bear protection gorge" or "bear marksman gorge". The name is derived from the Slavic *pršica, meaning "gushing stream".[2]

Location and Geography

The Bärenschützklamm lies roughly 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) east of the village of Mixnitz, part of the municipality of Pernegg an der Mur, Styria.

It was carved by the Mixnitzbach ("Mixnitz Creek"), which originates at 1,416 metres (4,646 ft) above the Adriatic, passes through a small lake at the Teichalm ("Pond Alm") and then passes through the gorge as a series of waterfalls. It then joins the river Mur, which eventually joins the Danube via the Drava.[3]

It was declared a natural monument in 1978 and today is part of the IUCN recognized protected landscape "Almenland".[4][5]

Tourism

Plaque commemorating the construction of the first walkway in 1901.

The first route through the gorge was constructed in 1901 by the Grazer Alpen Club ("Graz Alpine Club").[5]

Today, it is traversed by a 1.3-kilometre (0.81 mi) trail using numerous mostly wooden bridges and 164 ladders.[6][7] Gaining a total 350 metres (1,150 ft) of elevation, the hike takes roughly 1.5 hours. Having reached the top, hikers either return via a hiking path ("Prügelweg"), proceed to Hochlantsch mountain or visit one of the two restaurants.

The infrastructure within the canyon is maintained by the local chapter of the Austrian Alpine Club, who in turn charges a fee for entering the gorge.[1]

Before its closure it received about 40,000 visitors annually. Concerns about overcrowding had been raised in 2019.[8]

2020 Rockfall and Reconstruction

At noon on 8 July 2020, several large pieces of rock fell onto a walkway and wooden ladders below, killing three and injuring nine others. Four helicopters and 70 – 100 personnel of mountain rescue services, the Austrian Red Cross, police, fire brigade and military were involved in emergency operations.[9][10] Initially believed to have caused only two fatalities, a third victim was found two days later in a deep pool, after being reported missing by his flatmates.[7][11] The gorge was closed to the public immediately.[9]

In November 2020, the public prosecutor terminated investigations and declared the rockfall an "unforseeable act of nature".[12] One of the injured hikers filed a civil suit against the Austrian Alpine Club, seeking damages.[13]

In February 2023, a new safety concept was approved by local authorities after having rejected a previous one on environmental concerns.[14] It is planned to place ten steel nets above sections of the route, and to inspect all walkways and ladders and replace them as needed. The expected costs rose several times from an initial 650,000 to 1.5 million euros by October 2023.[15][16][17] The increase was attributed to one third of walkways being in need of replacement and necessary replanning of some sections.[1]

The reopening is planned for 1 May 2024.[17][18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bärenschützklamm: Sanierung wird teurer" [Bärenschützklamm: Restoration Becomes More Expensive]. ORF Steiermark (in Austrian German). 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  2. ↑ Stenner, Christian, ed. (1997). Slowenische Steiermark: verdrängte Minderheit in Österreichs Südosten [Slovenian Styria: Displaced Minority in Austria's South East] (PDF). Zur Kunde Südosteuropas II (in German). Wien Köln Weimar: Böhlau. p. 21. ISBN 978-3-205-98690-4.
  3. ↑ "Digitaler Atlas der Steiermark: Gewässer und Wasserinformation" [Digital Atlas of Styria: Information on Bodies of Water, and Water]. gis.stmk.gv.at (in Austrian German). Government of Styria. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  4. ↑ "Protected Planet | Almenland". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  5. 1 2 "Naturjuwel Bärenschützklamm in Pernegg | steiermark.com". www.steiermark.com (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  6. ↑ "Two hikers killed by rockfall in popular Austrian gorge". Reuters. 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  7. 1 2 "Rockfall in Austrian canyon kills 3 people". www.geoengineer.org. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  8. ↑ "Bärenschützklamm kämpft mit Überlastung" [Bärenschützklamm Struggles with Overcrowding]. ORF Steiermark (in German). 2019-08-31. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  9. 1 2 "Zwei Tote bei Felssturz in Bärenschützklamm" [Two Dead after Rockfall at Bärenschützklamm] (in Austrian German). ORF Steiermark. 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  10. ↑ "Felssturz: Weiteres Todesopfer geborgen" [Rockfall: Further Victim Recovered] (in Austrian German). ORF Steiermark. 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  11. ↑ "Drittes Todesopfer nach Felssturz in Bärenschützklamm gefunden" [Third Fatality Found after Rockfall in Bärenschützklamm]. Der Standard (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  12. ↑ "Tödlicher Felssturz "Naturereignis"" [Deadly Rockfall "Act of Nature"]. ORF Steiermark (in Austrian German). 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  13. ↑ Blümel, Christa (2021-07-18). "Bleibt die schöne Bärenschützklamm geschlossen?" [Will Beautiful Bärenschützklamm Remain Closed?]. Kronen Zeitung (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  14. ↑ "Bärenschützklamm soll im Herbst wieder öffnen" [Bärenschützklamm to Reopen in Fall]. ORF Steiermark (in Austrian German). 2023-02-18. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  15. ↑ "Bärenschützklamm bleibt nach Steinschlag weiter zu" [Bärenschützklamm remains closed after rockfall]. ORF Steiermark (in Austrian German). 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  16. ↑ "Bauarbeiten in steirischer Bärenschützklamm können starten" [Construction Can Begin in Styria's Bärenschützklamm]. Der Standard (in Austrian German). 2023-03-15. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  17. 1 2 "Bärenschützklamm: Eröffnung verzögert sich weiter" [Bärenschützklamm: Opening delayed further]. ORF Steiermark (in Austrian German). 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  18. ↑ "Geplant am 1. Mai - Bärenschützklamm: Wiedereröffnung um ein halbes Jahr verschoben" [Planned for 1 May - Bärenschützklamm: Reopening postponed by half a year]. www.kleinezeitung.at (in Austrian German). 2023-09-16. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
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