Watersheds in the Alps
The Alpine region essentially belongs to five river catchment areas :
- Rhine flows to the North Sea ,
- Rhone , to the western Mediterranean ( Golfe du Lion ),
- Po , to the eastern Mediterranean ( Adriatic ),
- Etsch , also to the Adriatic,
- Danube , to the Black Sea .
Parts of the southern side of the Alps drain directly to the Mediterranean via smaller rivers, such as the Var or Piave . Only the Rhine lies north, all other river systems south of the European watershed , which separates the North Atlantic water from the Mediterranean / Black Sea.
Legend
The following describes the course of the main watersheds in the Alps.
Notes on typography
- Passports are in bold . The choice is subjective. Priority is given to passes that are well-developed or historically significant today.
- Italics are used to describe the areas to the left and right of the watershed, mostly names of tributaries. Landscape names are in brackets.
Watersheds along the main Alpine ridge (from southwest to east)
Po-Ligurian Sea Divide
Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Rhône river basin.
-
Stura di Demonte / Var. Tinée and Var. Vésubie :
- Tête de l'Enchastraye - Mont Ténibres - Col de la Lombarde - Cima Argentera - Cime du Gélas (Cima dei Golas).
-
Stura di Demonte, Tànaro and Orba :
- Cime du Gélas - Colle di Tenda - Monte Saccarello - Colle di Nava - Colle San Bernardo - Colle del Melogno - Sella between Mondovì and Savona .
This is where the Ligurian Alps end by definition . The watershed continues in the Apennines .
Rhône-Po watershed
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Rhine river basin.
-
Ticino (Leventina) : Gotthard Group and Leone Group, southern boundary of the Goms .
- The border triangle Uri - Ticino - Valais southeast of the Witenwasserenstock on the ridge between Pizzo Rotondo and Pizzo Lucendro - Pizzo Rotondo - Pizzo Gallina - Nufenenpass - Nufenenstock - Griespass .
-
Ticino / Toce :
- Griespass - Blinnenhorn - Hohsandhorn - Ofenhorn - Albrunpass - Albrunhorn - Scherbadung - Helsenhorn - Wasenhorn - Monte Leone - Hübschhorn - Simplonpass - Spitzhörli - Böshorn.
-
Vispa / Ticino.Toce : Valais Alps . First on the Weissmies ridge to the south, from the Portjengrat on the main Alpine ridge to the south-west.
- Böshorn - Fletschhorn - Weissmies - Portjengrat - Sonnighorn - Latelhorn - Spechhorn - Monte Moro - Weissgrat - Monte Rosa ( Signalkuppe ).
-
Vispa / Sesia :
- Monte Rosa (short ridge to Ludwigshöhe). From now on mainly westerly direction.
-
Vispa / Dora Baltea :
- Monte Rosa - Breithorn - Matterhorn - Dent d'Hérens - Tête Blanche .
-
Borgne / Dora Baltea :
- Tête Blanche - Mont Brulé - L'Evêque - La Singla.
-
Drance / Dora Baltea : Mont Blanc group, from the Aiguille de Bionnassay (shortly after the main summit) mainly in a southerly direction.
- La Singla - Bec d'Epicoune - Mont Gelé - Mont Vélan - Grand St-Bernard - Grand Golliat - Col de Ferret - Mont Dolent .
-
Arve / Dora Baltea : Mont Blanc group, from Little St. Bernhard transition to the Rutor group.
- Mont Dolent - Grandes Jorasses - Mont Blanc - Tré la Tête - Aiguille des Glaciers.
-
Isère ( Tarentaise ) / Dora Baltea :
- Aiguille des Glaciers - Col de la Seigne - Pointe de Léchaud - Sommet des Rousses - Petit St-Bernard - Grand Assaly - Becca du Lac - Col du Mont - Aiguille de la Grande Sassière - Tsanteleina - Pointe de la Galise.
-
Isère (Tarentaise) / Orco : Above the Isère glacier, entry to the Charbonnel group.
- Pointe de la Galise - Grande Aiguille Rousse.
-
Isère. Arc / Orco :
- Grande Aiguille Rousse - Levanna Centrale.
-
Isère.Arc / Stura di Lanzo : Direction mainly southwest.
- Levanna Centrale - Cime Monfret - Petite Ciamarella - Croix Rousse - Rocciamelone (Rochemelon).
-
Isère.Arc / Dora Riparia : The watershed surrounds the Mont-Cenis lake in a semicircle. Transition to the Thabor group .
- Rocciamelone - Pointe de Ronce - Col du Mont Cenis - Pointe de Bellecombe - Dent d'Ambin - Cime du Grand Vallon - Pointe Sommeiller - Aiguille de Scolette - Col du Fréjus - Mont Thabor .
-
Durance / Dora Ripária : At the Montgenèvre pass, transition into the Cottian Alps .
- Mont Thabor - Col de l'Échelle - Pointe des Rochers Charniers - Col de Montgenèvre - Bric Froid - Grand Queyron.
- Durance / Pellice - Po - Varaita - Maira - Tanaro : Grand Queyron - Passo di Vallanta near Monviso - Col Agnel - Brec de Chambeyron - Col de Larche (Colle della Maddalena) - Rocca dei Tre Vescovi near Tête de l'Enchastraye.
- End of the watershed. Adjacent to the Var river basin .
Rhine-Po watershed
In the area of the Gotthard Group up to Piz Curnera, the watershed follows the main Alpine ridge . Between Piz Curnera and Lukmanierpass , the watershed between Val Cadlimo and the Piora-Mulde runs south of the Alpine ridge. On the northern edge of the Pioramulde the watershed divides twice into two branches and includes the lakes Lago di Tom and Lago di Dentro , which are located in depressions without any drainage . The access routes to the passes are spread over two valleys in the north and south.
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Rhône river basin.
-
Aare.Reuss / Ticino ( Leventina ) :
- Witenwasserenstock - Pizzo Lucendro - Gotthard Pass - Pizzo Centrale - Piz Alv.
-
Vorderrhein ( Tujetsch ) / Ticino (Leventina) :
- Piz Alv - Passo Bornengo - Piz Borel - Piz Curnera.
-
Vorderrhein ( Medel ) / Ticino (Leventina) :
- Piz Curnera - Bocchetta di Cadlimo - Punta Negra - "Lago di Tom" - Pizzo Taneda - Piz Corandoni - "Lago di Dentro" - Schenadüi - Pizzo dell'Uomo.
- Lake Tom
- North side to the Cadlimotal (Medel, Vorderrhein)
- - Bassa del Lago Scuro -
- South side (Ticino)
- - Poncioni Negri - Pizzo Stabbiello - Bassa della Fontana del Bò - Alpe Tom - Motta - Poncione Cariói - Pizzo Taneda
- Lake Dentro
- North side to the Cadlimotal
- Piz Corandoni - Bocchetta della Miniera - Schenadüi
- South side
- Piz Corandoni - Stabbio della Pecora di Dentro - Schenadüi
-
Vorderrhein (Medel) / Ticino ( Blenio ) :
- Adula Alps . Pizzo dell'Uomo - Lukmanier Pass - Scopí - Cima della Bianca - Sasso Lanzone - Piz Medel .
-
Vorderrhein ( Sumvitg ) / Ticino (Blenio) : The watershed turns significantly to the south.
- Piz Medel - Piz Valdraus - Greinapass - Piz Corói - Piz Terri .
-
Vorderrhein ( Lumnezia ) / Ticino (Blenio) : Now again mainly to the east.
- Piz Terri - Piz Alpettas - Testa di Garzora - Plattenberg - Rheinwaldhorn .
-
Hinterrhein / Ticino (Blenio) : Adula Alps , at the San Bernardino pass transition to the Ceneri group.
- Rheinwaldhorn - Lògia - Vogelberg - Rheinquellhorn - Pizzo de Stabi.
-
Hinterrhein / Ticino ( Misox ) :
- Pizzo de Stabi - Zapportgrat - Passo del San Bernardino - Pizzo Uccello - Einshorn - Passo Vignone - Pizzo de la Lumbreida - Pizzo Curciusa - Pizzo Bianch.
-
Hinterrhein / Adda . Mera : The Eastern Alps begin at the Splügen Pass : Oberhalbsteiner Alps (Platta Group). The watershed soon turns south to encompass the source valleys of the Rein da Ferrera, the Valle di Lei and the Avers . On the ridge that closes the Bergell to the north, it turns again to the east.
- Pizzo Bianch - Pizzo Ferrè - Pizzo Tambo - Splügenpass - Surettahorn - point 2916 46 ° 30 '13.4 " N , 9 ° 22' 24.4" O ( 748 500 / 152099 ) .
-
Hinterrhein ( Ferrera ) / Adda.Mera :
- Point 2916 - Pizzo Spadolazzo - Pass da Niemet - Pizzo Timun - Monte Mater - Pizzo Groppera - Angeloga - Pizzo Stella - Pizzo Somma Valle - Cima da Lägh - Pizz Gallagiun - Pass da la Prasignola - Piz dal Märc - Gletscherhorn - Piz Turba - Piz Forcellina.
-
Hinterrhein. Albula ( Oberhalbstein ) / Adda.Mera : The mountain range between Septimer and Julier is one of the Albula Alps .
- Piz Forcellina - Septimer Pass - Motta da Sett - Lunghin Pass .
- End of the watershed. Adjacent to the Danube river basin .
Danube-Po watershed (= Inn-Po watershed)
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Rhine river basin .
-
Inn ( Engadin ) / Adda . Mera : The area north of the Inn is part of the Albula Alps. The Bernina Alps begin to the south, on whose main ridge the watershed to the Bernina Pass runs in a predominantly eastern direction.
- Pass Lunghin - Piz Lunghin - Malojapass - Piz da la Margna - Piz Fedoz - Piz Muretto.
-
Inn (Engadin) / Adda ( Valmalenco ) :
- Piz Muretto - Piz Fora - Piz Glüschaint - Piz Roseg - Piz Scerscen - Piz Bernina - Piz Zupò - Piz Palü .
-
Inn (Engadin) / Adda ( Poschiavo ) :
- Piz Palü - Piz Cambrena - Bernina Pass - transition to the Livigno Alps - Forcola di Livigno - Piz Paradisin - Piz Val Nera.
-
Inn (Engadin) / Adda : Northeast direction. The last section from Piz Murtaröl belongs to the Ortler group .
- Piz Val Nera - Pizzo Filone - Monte Forcellina - Passo di Foscagno - Passo di Val Trela - Monte Pettini - Passo di Valle Alpisella - Pizzo Aguzzo - Passo di Fraele - Monte Cornaccia (Piz tea Fondada) - Piz Schumbraida - Monte Forcola.
- End of the watershed. Adjacent to the river Adige .
Inn-Etsch watershed
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Po river basin.
-
Inn (Engadin) / Etsch ( Vinschgau ) : Reaching west around the Münstertal . The mountains belong to the Ortler group , from the Ofen Pass to the Sesvenna group.
- Monte Forcola - Döss Radond (valley watershed Val Mora / Val Vau) - Piz Turettas - Piz Dora - Piz Daint - Ofenpass - Munt de la Bescha - Pass da Costainas - Piz Terza - Piz Starlex - S-charljoch - Piz Sesvenna - Piz Rims - Schlinigpass - Craist 'Alta - Grion head - Outer cam head .
-
Inn (Tyrol) / Etsch (Vinschgau) : The watershed now runs mainly in an easterly direction over the peaks of the Central Alps. From the Reschenpass these are the Ötztal Alps , from the Timmelsjoch the Stubai Alps .
- Outer Nock - Reschenpass - Großer Schafkopf - Weißseespitze - Weißkugel - Hochjoch - Similaun - Hohe Wilde .
- Inn / Passeier :
- Inn / Eisack : After the deepest depression of the Central Alps on the Brenner Pass, the Zillertal Alps begin .
-
Inn. Ziller / Eisack :
- Hohe Wand - Pfitscher Joch - Hochfeiler - Hoher Weißzint .
- Inn.Ziller / Eisack. Rienz :
- Inn. Salzach / Eisack.Rienz :
- End of the watershed. Adjacent to the Drau river basin .
Inn-Drau watershed
The watershed runs through the Hohe Tauern just north of the Großglockner. In this area it forms the southern border of the federal state of Salzburg (except in the area of the northern Bockkarkee).
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the river Adige
Dreiherrnspitze - Obersulzbachtörl - Großvenediger - Felber Tauern - Granatspitze - Kalser Tauern - Eiskögele - Johannisberg - Hohe Riffl - Fuscherkarkopf - Lower Pfandlscharte - Spielmann - Hochtor - Hocharn - Schareck - Korntauern - Ankogel - Arlscharte - Weinschnabel - Faulkogel
- End of the watershed. Adjacent to the river Enns
Enns-Drau watershed
The watershed runs from the Niedere Tauern to the Mürzsteg Alps - through Salzburg via Styria to Lower Austria
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Inn river basin
- Faulkogel - Radstädter Tauernpass - Hochgolling - Sölkpass - Rottenmanner and Wölzer Tauern - Triebener Tauern - Seckauer Tauern - Schoberpass - Eisenerzer Hauptkamm - Präbichl - Hochschwab - Styrian Seeberg - Hohe Veitsch - Niederalpl - Lahnsattel - Göller
- End of the watershed. Adjacent river area Traisen (river)
Traisen-Drau watershed
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the river Enns
- Göller - Göller-Gippel-Zug - Gippelmauer
- End of the watershed. Adjacent to the Leitha river area
Traisen-Leitha watershed
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Leitha river area
- Gippelmauer - Haselstein - Ochsattel - Hegerberg - Kalte Kuchl - Jochart - Unterberg
- End of the watershed. Adjacent to the Fischa river basin
Traisen-Fischa watershed
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Leitha river area
- Unterberg - Kirchwaldberg - Bettelmannkreuz - Kieneck (Gutenstein Alps)
- End of the watershed. Adjacent to the Schwechat river area
Traisen- Schwechat- watershed
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Fischa river basin
- Kieneck - Veiglkogel - Gerichtsberg - Valeriehöhe - Klammhöhe
- End of the watershed. Adjacent to the river area Große Tulln
Watershed Große Tulln -Schwalat
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Traisen river basin
- Klammhöhe - Schöpfl - Jochgrabenberg -
- End of the watershed. Adjacent to the Vienna river basin
Great Tulln watershed - Vienna
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Schwechat river area
- Kaiserbrunnberg - Rekawinkel - Heinratsberg - Troppberg - Riederberg
Watersheds north of the main Alpine ridge
Rhône-Var watershed
Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Po river basin. In a predominantly southerly direction through the Maritime Alps .
- Tête de l'Enchastraye - Col de Restefond - Col de la Cayolle - Col des Champs - Col de Chamatte - Col de Blaine .
Further on as a watershed between the Rhône and Argens through the Alps and pre-Alps of Provence .
Rhône and tributaries
- Rhône above Lake Geneva / Arve / Isère / Durance
Rhine-Rhône watershed
The Rhine-Rhône watershed is part of the Central European watershed from the Vosges via the Burgundian Gate , the Jura and the Swiss Plateau . It reaches the pre-Alps between Lac de Bret and Mont Pèlerin .
-
Broye / Lake Geneva : Freiburg Pre-Alps .
- Mont Pèlerin - Mont Vuarat - Châtel-Saint-Denis - Niremont .
-
Saane / Lake Geneva, Grande Eau : Freiburg Alps .
- Niremont - Teysachaux - Vanil Blanc - Dent de Lys - Vanil des Artses - Cape au Moine - Col de Jaman - Rochers de Naye - Pointe d'Aveneyre - Tour d'Aï - Mont d'Or - Col des Mosses - La Para - Col du Pillon - Oldenhorn .
-
Aare . Saane : → From the Oldenhorn to the Finsteraarhorn , the watershed runs along the main ridge of the Bernese Alps .
- Oldenhorn - Sanetschpass - Wildhorn - Schnidehorn .
-
Aare. Simme and Kander :
- Schnidehorn - Rawilpass - Wildstrubel - Gemmipass - Rinderhorn - Balmhorn - Lötschenpass - Hockenhorn - Tschingelhorn .
-
Aare. Lütschine :
- Tschingelhorn - Breithorn - Jungfrau - Mönch - Gross Fiescherhorn - Fieschergrat - Finsteraarhorn .
-
Aare. ( Hasli ) : Bernese, from Grimsel Urner Alps .
- Finsteraarhorn - Oberaarhorn - Aargrat - Grimsel Pass - Gärstenhörner - Tieralplistock - Dammastock .
-
Aare. Reuss : Urner Alps and Gotthard Group .
- Dammastock - Galenstock - Furkapass - Muttenhörner - Witenwasserenstock (ridge between Pizzo Rotondo and Pizzo Lucendro , secondary summit at 3,025 m above sea level ).
- End of the watershed at the eastern summit of the Witenwasserenstock. Adjacent to the Po river basin.
Rhine and tributaries
For finer subdivision into second-order river catchment areas.
- Alpine Rhine / Thur / Limmat / Reuss / Upper Aare
Rhine-Danube watershed
The watershed begins at the Lunghin Pass and ends in the Fichtel Mountains . The alpine part ends in the Allgäu foothills .
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Po river basin.
-
Hinterrhein. Albula.Julia (Oberhalbstein) / Inn ( Engadin ) : Albula Alps.
- Pass Lunghin - Piz Grevasalvas - Piz Lagrev - Julier Pass - Piz Valletta - Piz Surgonda - Piz d'Agnel - Piz d'Err - Piz Laviner.
-
Hinterrhein. Albula ( Bergün ) / Inn (Engadin) :
- Piz Laviner - Piz Bial - La Piramida - Fuorcla Crap Alv - Dschimels - Piz da las Blais - Albula Pass - Piz Üertsch - Piz Blaisun - Piz Kesch - Fuorcla Funtauna - Ravais-ch - Sertigpass .
-
Hinterrhein.Albula.Landwasser ( Davos ) / Inn (Engadin) : At the Flüelapass transition to the Silvretta .
- Sertigpass - Chüealphorn - Scalettapass - Scalettahorn - Piz Grialetsch - Piz Radönt - Flüela Schwarzhorn - Flüelapass - flüela wisshorn .
-
Landquart / Inn (Engadin) : Silvretta .
- Flüela Wisshorn - Rosställispitz - Flesspass - Vereinapass - Piz Zadrell - Verstanclahorn - Silvretta Glacier - Signalhorn.
-
Ill / Inn (Engadin) : Direction turns from northeast to north.
- Signalhorn - Piz Buin - Dreiländerspitze .
-
Ill / Inn. Trisanna : Silvretta and Verwall group (from Zeinisjoch ).
- Dreiländerspitze - Tiroler Kopf - Hohes Rad - Bielerhöhe - Vallüla - Ballunspitze - Zeinisjoch - Schrotenkopf.
-
Ill / Inn. Rosanna : Lechtal Alps and Lechquellen Mountains (from Arlbergpass ).
- Schrotenkopf - Verbellner Winterjoch - Stritkopf - Valschavielkopf - Silbertaler Winterjöchl - Kaltenberg - Arlbergpass - Valluga .
-
Ill / Lech : At the Hochtannbergpass, transition to the Allgäu Alps .
- Valluga - Flexenpass - Wildgrubenspitze - Spullersee - Rauhes Joch - Rote Wand - Johanneskopf - Braunarlspitze .
- Bregenz Ach / Lech :
-
Bregenz Ach / Iller :
- Höferspitze - Üntschenpass - Güntlespitze - Starzeljoch - Grünhorn - Gerachsattel - Hoher Ifen - Rohrmoossattel - Besler - Riedbergpass ( Balderschwanger Valley ) - Riedberger Horn - Scheidwangalpe - Nagelfluhkette ( Hochgrat ) - Himmeleck - Staufner Berg ( Oberstaufen ).
- Adjacent to the Argen river area.
Southwest of Kempten (Allgäu) , via Salmaser Höhe, Hauchenberg and Adelegg , the European main watershed changes into the Alpine foothills . From there it initially runs west to the Black Forest, from there via the Swabian Alb and Franconian Alb to the northeast to the Fichtel Mountains. For a more detailed description see watersheds in Germany .
Danube and tributaries
- See also: Jochenstein , on the watersheds of the hydrographic planning areas of Austria (DUJ / DBJ)
Watersheds south of the main Alpine ridge
Po and tributaries
- Dora Baltea / Sesia / Ticino / Adda / Oglio
Po-Adige watershed
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Danube river basin .
- Adda / ( Vinschgau ) : Main ridge of the Ortler group .
-
Adda / Noce ( Val di Sole ) :
- Monte Cevedale - Punta Matteo - Corno dei Tre Signori (above Passo di Gavia ).
-
Oglio / ( Valcamonica ) :
- Corno dei Tre Signori - Passo del Tonale - Presanella .
-
Mincio / Noce : Adamello group
- Presanella - Campo Carlo Magno - Cima Brenta - Sella di Andalo - Monte Paganella -
- Outside the Alps, it continues in a southerly direction on the ridge between Lake Garda and the Adige Valley in Trentino , to the transition to the Po plain west of Verona . The watershed reaches the Adriatic around Porto Levante south of Chioggia .
Drau-Etsch watershed
- Drau / Eisack.Rienz : Groß venedigergruppe and Rieserfernergruppe , from the Staller Sattel Villgraten Mountains . The watershed runs mainly south in this section, between East and South Tyrol , wherethe Dolomites beginsouth of the Toblacher saddle .
- Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Inn river basin
- Dreiherrnspitze - Rötspitze - Hochgall - Staller Sattel - Pfannhorn - Toblacher Sattel - Three Peaks
- End of the watershed. Adjacent to the Piave river basin .
Etsch watershed - other Adriatic tributaries
Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the Danube river basin.
-
Eisack.Rienz / Piave : The watershed runs through the Dolomites with many small changes of direction.
- Three Peaks - Col San Angelo - Monte Cristallo - Gemärk (Cimabanche) - Hohe Gaisl - Seekofel - Limojoch - Monte Cavallo - Valparola Pass - Pralongià - Campolongo Pass - Sella .
-
Avisio / Piave :
- Sella - Passo Pordoi - La Mesola (Sass di Mezodi) - Passo Fedaia - Marmolada - Passo di San Pellegrino - Monte Predazzo - Passo di Valles - Cima di Vezzana .
-
Avisio / Brenta : The Fiemme Valley Alps begin beyond the Passo di Rolle . The area southwest of the Brenta is known as the Vicentine Alps .
- Cima di Vezzana - Passo Rolle - Cima di Cece - Lagorai - Passo Manghen - Cima Croce - Val Sugana (valley watershed at Pergine) - Lavarone - Passo della Borcola - Monte Pasubio .
The watershed between the Adige and the Brenta runs further south to the Po Valley between Verona and Vicenza , then to the Adriatic at Chioggia.
Danube-Adriatic watershed (excluding Po and Adige)
Beginning of the watershed. Adjacent to the river Adige.
-
Drau / Piave :
- Drei Zinnen - Zwölferkopf - Croce Comélico (Kreuzberg) - Pfannspitze.
-
Outside. Gail / Piave : main ridge of the Carnic Alps .
- Pfannspitze - Hochweißstein .
-
Drau.Gail / Tagliamento : Carnic Alps, south of Val Canale are followed by the Julian Alps .
- Hochweißstein - Hohe Warte - Plöckenpass - Blaustein - Trogkofel - Nassfeldpass - Achenitzer Berg - valley watershed Sella di Camporosso near Tarvisio - Monte Santo di Lussari - Iof Fuart - Sella Nevea .
-
Drau.Gail / Isonzo [Soča] :
- Sella Nevea - Predilpass - Mangart .
- Save / Soča :
-
Sava / Soča. Idrijca :
- Vogel - Rodica - Kobla - Lajnar - Petrovo Brdo - Porezen - Blegoš - Cerkno saddle
This is where the Julian Alps end by definition. The watershed between the Danube and the Adriatic continues over the Karst . Since there are only a few surface waters in the Karst - which moreover usually sink into the permeable rock after a short run (see Postojna Caves and Škocjan Caves ), the exact definition of the watershed is problematic.