Weizklamm
| Weizklamm | ||
|---|---|---|
 View from the hotplate into the autumnal Weizklamm ( looking north) |
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| location | Sankt Kathrein am Offenegg / Passail / Naas , Styria | |
| Waters | Weizbach | |
| Mountains | Grazer Bergland , foothills east of the Mur | |
| Geographical location | 47 ° 15 '57 " N , 15 ° 34' 59" E | |
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| Type | Klamm , breakthrough valley | |
| rock | Schöcklkalk | |
| height | 621 to 562 m above sea level A. | |
| length | 2.4 km | |
| climate | Klammklima | |
| flora | Beeches - firs - mixed forest | |
| use | State road , climbing routes | |
| particularities | numerous caves , water reserve | |
The Weizklamm is a water-bearing gorge and a breakthrough valley in the eastern Grazer Bergland in the Austrian state of Styria . Through them the Weizbach drains the eastern part of the Passail basin . The Rechberg Straße (B 64) running through the gorge forms an important regional traffic axis between the district capital Weiz in the south and Passail in the north. In addition to numerous caves, the important karst area contains a not insignificant karst water deposit, due to which the Weizer Bergland was designated a water conservation area in 2009 . Due to some special features relating to vegetation and animal history, the northern part of the gorge, which is under landscape protection , belongs to the Almenland Nature Park .
geography
Location and surroundings
The gorge in the narrower sense extends between the Kreuzwirt (municipality of Sankt Kathrein am Offenegg ) and the Marko quarry (municipality of Naas ) at an altitude of between 621 and 562 m above sea level. A. over a total length of 2.4 kilometers. This corresponds to an average gradient of 2.46 percent. The municipality of Passail also has a share of the area in the Weizklamm.
The surrounding elevations have the character of a low mountain range and reach heights of around 1200 m . They are often referred to as the “Weizer Bergland” and form the eastern end of the higher-ranking Grazer Bergland. To the west of the gorge is the Sattelberg ( 1088 m ), on the eastern bank the Patschaberg ( 1271 m ) rises . The Naas community center is located around 1300 meters down from the gorge exit.
Geology and geomorphology
The Passail Basin is bounded in the southeast by a mountain sill that rises on average around 500 meters. This striking terrain is made up of Devonian Schöcklkalk and is therefore geologically fundamentally different from its immediate surroundings. The SW-NE- striking limestone clod is broken through by flowing waters in two places , by the Raab and the Weizbach. While the breakthrough valley of the Raab, the so-called Raabklamm , stretches for almost ten kilometers (where the width of the limestone clod reaches its maximum extent), the northeastern Weizklamm is only around two and a half kilometers long. Both the limestone sill and most of the rocks in the immediate vicinity are to be assigned to the Graz Paleozoic Era and thus belong tectonostratigraphically to the Upper Eastern Alps . Morphologically, the Weizklamm has the character of a Kerbtal at the beginning, slowly narrows for the first 600 meters to a gorge and finally to a gorge. The steep collapse of the Schöcklkalk layers is particularly easy to observe there, while harder rocks appear as rock walls and pillars. The “real gorge character” characterizes the landscape up to about 100 meters above the stream bed, above which the slopes begin to recede. Rugged and steep ridges dominate the picture as well as steep gullies. At the Marko quarry the breakthrough widens again and the Weiztal forms a narrow valley floor.
Karst
The mighty limestone clod predestines the Weizklamm and its surroundings for the karstification process . In the course of the Alpid mountain formation , the Paleozoic sedimentary rocks folded and the Passail Basin formed a polje . The Weizbach then made its way underground through the banked , strongly fractured Schöcklkalk, which has a particularly high solubility with a CaCO 3 content of up to 99% . The youngest tertiary was marked by a tectonic uplift of the mountainous country and simultaneous incision of the brook. During a period of rest, numerous caves were formed, which were formed by the water of the Weizbach. Most of the hollow forms are located at an altitude of 700 to 800 meters on the so-called Landscha level . In the course of renewed uplift processes, the stream cut even deeper and the gorge reached its present-day appearance.
caves
Around the Weizklamm there are a total of over 100 caves, which are evenly distributed over the west and east banks. Few of them are easily accessible, so there are no show caves . It is now believed that at least some of the larger caves could have been inhabited during Roman times. After the Second World War , vein deposits of barite were excavated in some caves . Most of the cavities provide an important habitat for bat populations and should not be entered due to their natural sensitivity.
The most famous cave is the Rablloch ( cadastral no. 2834/8 ), the portal of which is 773 m above sea level. A. Orographically to the left the gorge at the foot of the Rablgrat opens. With a length of 195 meters and a maximum width of 15 meters, it is also one of the larger caves in the Weizer Bergland. The two most important passages inside the cave are the “Great Cathedral” and the adjoining “Bell Hall”. The cavity consists of a sole of small debris coated sintered ceiling , from up to 1.5 meters high stalagmites protrude. These are special because they belong to the broad-conical type, which is rare in Austria. These include those stalagmites whose diameter at the base is twice as large as their height. The possibilities of a systematic investigation of the sediment sequence as well as the connection to tectonic movement surfaces give the Rablloch a certain scientific relevance. In 1968 it was declared a natural monument by the Federal Monuments Office .
According to today's knowledge, the largest cave in the Weizklamm is the Klementgrotte (also Klementhöhle, 2833/21), whose portal on the west bank at 671 m above sea level. A. lies. The labyrinthine corridors of the cave reach a total length of 845 meters with a height difference of 50 meters. In addition, the Klementgrotte can boast some stalactite formations and sinter basins , an eight meter high wall sinter figure is particularly remarkable. While exploring the cavity in the 19th century, bones of the cave bear ( Ursus spelaeus ) were found. After 1910, the cave was made accessible by pathways and stairs and served as a show cave for a while. Like the Rablloch, the Klementgrotte was also declared a natural monument in 1968.
Another cave worth mentioning is the so-called Wagenhüttentorbogen (2834/14), a short passage cave with three large openings that must be crossed on the Jägersteig. The rock gate, as the cave is also called, owes its creation to a system of disturbances running parallel to the path. Ceiling scours indicate the former direction of flow of Weiz creek.
climate
Essentially, the Weizklamm can be divided into two climatic units. Due to the relief, there is a gorge climate in the narrowest area of the breakthrough, characterized by high losses of sunshine. The steep slopes above, on the other hand, have favorable or unfavorable conditions depending on the exposure . In the southern section of the gorge in particular, there are areas into which the winter sun rarely or not at all penetrates, with tanning losses of 20 to 40 percent compared to the surroundings. The morphology of the breakthrough is also of critical importance for night-time cold air drainage. Cold air accumulates at the north portal of the gorge, which can reach a height of 150 meters. Areas like these are characterized by a high risk of frost and are therefore rarely used. At the southern exit of the gorge, however, jet effects with wind speeds of around three meters per second ensure a relatively low risk of frost.
The Weizklamm is located in one of the thunderstorm regions in Austria. With 35 to 45 thunderstorm days a year, it is therefore not uncommon for the Weizbach to cause flooding, as it did in July 2014. Thanks to the low winter precipitation and the associated lack of snow , the snowmelt in spring has comparatively little effect on the water flow .
Flora and fauna
From a vegetation perspective, the Weizklamm forms a sub-Mediterranean island that is home to species that are highly unusual for Eastern Styria. The special landscape conditions have meant that many rare plant species have been preserved in the sense of relics . These include the hop beech ( Ostrya carpinifolia ), the downy oak ( Quercus pubescens ), the flower ash ( Fraxinus ornus ) and the false jasmine ( Philadelphus coronarius ), which otherwise only occurs as an ornamental shrub . The hop beech growing there was identified floristically in 1896 and processed in 1968 by plant sociology . Due to the favorable local climatic conditions - in particular the protection against late frosts and the high humidity - in connection with the lime-rich soil and the extreme relief, the hop beech finds ideal living conditions and is endemic to the local community .
In terms of animal geography , a wide variety of habitats can be identified in a very small space. The cool and moist gorge floor and the rock walls wetted by the stream water offer ideal living conditions for various types of snail, including the only two millimeter tall pyramid snail ( Pyramidula rupestris ) and representatives of door snails (Clausiliidae). Birds like the common swift ( Apus apus ) like to nest in the rocks above, especially on the sunny side , but also reptiles like the wall lizard ( Podarcis muralis ) or, if there is sufficient moisture, the fire salamander ( Salamandra salamandra ) can be found. The chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra ) find optimal terrain in the mixed forest sections, which are criss-crossed by steep scree channels and rock ridges . The caves represent a special habitat, especially in winter as temporary quarters for certain animal species. The most prominent regular cave dwellers are the bats , eleven different species of which have already been identified in the caves of the Weizklamm. These include the lesser horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus hipposiderus ), the large mouse- eared bat ( Barbastella barbastellus ) and the pug bat ( Myotis myotis ), as well as rare species such as the ciliated bat , fringed bat and water bat ( Myotis emarginatus, nattereri and daubentoni ). The population depends heavily on the insect supply, which in turn is dependent on certain habitats such as the dry grassland in the area of Sattelberg and Patschaberg.
The occurrence of these species in connection with the unique landscape led to efforts at the end of the 1990s to establish a nature park whose territory should include the Raabklamm as well as the Weizklamm . While the Raabklamm was designated as a separate European protected area, part of the Weizklamm has been part of the Almenland Nature Park since 2007 . In addition, the entire gorge area has been in the LSG Almenland, Fischbacher Alpen and Grazer Bergland since 2006 .
Development history
Jägersteig
For a long time, the only way through the gorge was via today's Jägersteig, which branches off at the former Felsenkeller inn and runs parallel to the creek bed over the gorge at a height of around 100 meters. This route was part of the Kathreiner Weg, which served as a frequently used connection between Weiz and the villages north of the mountain threshold. An alternative through the streambed, which was used by carts , was considered dangerous in the event of sudden storms and also claimed deaths.
The trail was revitalized in 1961 by Naturfreunde Weiz with the support of the tourism department of the Styrian state government and has since been used mainly by climbers as an access and descent route. In 1990, the nature lovers, led by Karl Moser, added a suspension bridge to the path . An inspection of the path, which is partially secured with wire ropes, requires surefootedness. When using the suspension bridge, a certain amount of a head for heights is also recommended.
Street
In 1873 the communities of Fladnitz an der Teichalm and Passail submitted an application to the Styrian state parliament for the construction of a road connection to Weiz . A draft submitted by the State Building Authority in 1876 divided the 14-kilometer road into four sections. Of the total budget of 96,000 guilders , around 53,000 went to the section of the gorge. On April 14, 1877, the building project was approved by the state government. The order went to the company Pratschinker & Co. from Stein bei Laibach , the engineer Guido Edler von Toncourt was hired as construction manager. The complex construction work began in May 1878 and lasted until September 1879. After the road had been ceremonially opened, several coachman inns established themselves along the route, including the rock cellar at the entrance to the Weizklamm. In addition to the villages in the Passail Basin, the entire region benefited economically from the new traffic axis.
Due to the location of the ravine, the road is particularly prone to falling rocks and needs regular maintenance. The important commuter connection hit the headlines in January 2008 when the storm Paula swept over Styria. Numerous trees fell on the street and caused considerable damage in some cases. Between January 27th and April 19th, the B 64 in the Weizklamm area was closed, which 15,000 people in the Passail area felt. During this period, among other things, guardrails were renovated, new asphalt was laid and, in addition to the existing rockfall protection, a generous network construction was built. According to Kristina Edlinger-Ploder, State Transport Authority, the costs of use and materials amounted to around 1.2 million euros .
Because of the potential danger, the construction of a road tunnel was considered for a long time . In particular, the traffic disruptions caused by Tief Paula stimulated the discussion again. Among other things, a good 6,000 signatures for the tunnel construction were collected from the population. The two-kilometer-long tube should be completed in around two and a half years of construction. While no structural problems were to be feared, the outstanding environmental impact assessment and the associated delays caused displeasure among politicians and the population. In addition, the financing of an estimated 45 million euros threatened to blow the country's transport budget. The project has since been discarded after the Weizklamm was declared a water reserve in 2009 (see Weiz water supply ).
Hundreds of tons of rock got caught in the protective nets when mudslides left in the wake of floods. These will be cleared by hand by approximately July 5, 2020, and repaired 3 days later so that the blocked road can initially be opened to a single lane.
Climb
The limestone cliffs on the east bank of the Weizklamm are among the most popular climbing areas in the vicinity of the Styrian capital, along with those in the northern Grazer Bergland. Especially the Rablgrat in the area of the cave of the same name has some routes of various degrees of difficulty and is popular. The easiest way is to cross it along the ridge path ( 3+ ). Various approaches to this route, which give the rock a certain climbing garden character, reach difficulties up to 6+. Another option is the so-called hotplate with difficulties from 4 (e.g. Tarzan pillar) to 7+. However, the ascent must be made directly from the gorge (no parking).
Weiz water supply
Left and right of the Weizklamm are the areas from which the city of Weiz gets its drinking water. The karst areas on the Sattelberg and Patschaberg are hydrologically connected to several important karst springs on the southern edge of the mountain. These include the 1925 ducted Baumühlquelle (average bed of 160 l / s) and the both sides of the Weizmann stream exiting pair of sources (30 l / s) in the municipality of Naas . Due to its great importance for the water supply , large parts of the Weizer Bergland, including the Weizklamm, have been designated as a water conservation area by the State of Styria. The total area of the sanctuary is 7690 ha. However, conflicts over the highly vulnerable karst water persist. In 2011, for example, a planned funnel quarry project on the Sattelberg did not pass the environmental impact assessment after attempts at marking had finally verified a connection to the karst sources mentioned.
Literature and maps
- Fritz Ebner: Weiztal nature guide . In: Publications of the Raabklamm Research Center . tape IX / X . Graz 1984 (144 pages).
- Gerald Fuchs: The karst on the east bank of the Weizklamm . In: Reports of the water management framework planning (Office of the Styrian Provincial Government) . tape 65 . Graz 1983 ( wasserwirtschaft.steiermark.at [PDF; 8.3 MB ; accessed on December 26, 2015]).
- Harald Polt: The caves on the west bank of the Weizklamm . In: Communications of the State Association for Speleology in Styria . tape 24 . Graz 1995.
- Freytag & Berndt Vienna, hiking map 1: 50,000, WK 131 and WK 133
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Fritz Ebner: Weiztal nature guide. (see literature)
- ^ Arnold Zimmermann: The plant cover - the colorful dress of the Weizer landscape. In: Naturführer Weiztal , p. 55 (see literature)
- ↑ a b Weizer Bergland Sanctuary Regulations, LGBl. No. 58/2009. wasserwirtschaft.steiermark.at (PDF; 49 KB), accessed on January 31, 2015
- ↑ Digital Atlas of Styria: Geology & Geotechnics. (No longer available online.) State of Styria , archived from the original on June 15, 2012 ; accessed on December 21, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Fritz Ebner: The geology of the Weiztales, an image of 500 million years of geological history. In: Naturführer Weiztal , p. 7 (see literature)
- ↑ Thomas Untersweg: Appearance and Becoming of the Landscape . In: Naturführer Weiztal , p. 14 (see literature)
- ↑ Gerald Fuchs: The karst on the east bank of the Weizklamm . In: Reports of the water management framework planning, Volume 65 , p. 9 (see literature)
- ^ Josef Flack: The Weizklamm - A karst landscape . In: Naturführer Weiztal , p. 23 f. (see literature)
- ↑ a b Fritz Ebner et al .: From St. Ruprecht ad Raab to the Plankogel - a natural history excursion guide through the Weiztal . In: Naturführer Weiztal , p. 136 (see literature)
- ↑ Helmut wing: The geology of the Grazer Bergland. Announcements from the Department of Geology, Paleontology and Mining at the Landesmuseum Joanneum , Graz 1975, p. 217 museum-joanneum.at ( Memento of the original from February 1, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 37 MB), accessed January 30, 2015
- ^ A b Hubert Trimmel: Cave protection in Austria in 1968 . In: Die Höhle 20 , Vienna 1969, pp. 13-14, PDF (1.6 MB) on ZOBODAT
- ↑ Harald Polt: Caves on the west bank of the Weizklamm . In: Communications from the State Association for Speleology in Styria 24 , pp. 6–167 (see literature)
- ↑ a b Reinhold Lazar: Climatic features . In: Naturführer Weiztal , pp. 99–106 (see literature)
- ↑ Weiz's water supply works perfectly despite the flood. The week August 1, 2014, accessed February 14, 2016 .
- ↑ Walter Weiss: The last paradises of Austria - walks through Austria's nature and landscape protection areas. Publishing house of the Austrian State Printing House . 3rd edition, Vienna 1992, p. 144.
- ^ Arnold Zimmermann & Stefan Plank: Site studies on the hop beech exclave near Weiz, Styria . In: Mitt. Naturwiss. Ver. Styria . Volume 112. Graz 1982, pp. 145-154.
- ↑ Erich Kreissl: Excerpts from the animal world . In: Naturführer Weiztal , pp. 74–77. (see literature)
- ↑ Martina Oswald: Raabklamm / Weizklamm nature park project. Natural and cultural landscape. Diploma thesis at the Institute for Geography, University of Graz , 82 pp.
- ↑ Landscape protection areas in Styria. Retrieved December 8, 2015 .
- ↑ a b Klammstrasse (Weiz Lexicon). (No longer available online.) City of Weiz , archived from the original on February 14, 2016 ; Retrieved December 18, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Weizklamm free again. ORF , April 19, 2008, accessed on December 18, 2015 .
- ↑ Weizklamm tunnel. ORF , March 19, 2008, accessed on December 18, 2015 .
- ^ Weizklammtunnel: No agreement on construction. ORF , January 27, 2009, accessed on December 18, 2015 .
- ↑ Rablgrat (Weizklamm). (PDF; 195 kB) www.styria-alpin.at, accessed on December 18, 2015 .
- ↑ Rablgrat (ridge path). (PDF; 293 kB) (No longer available online.) Bergstieg.com, archived from the original on February 14, 2016 ; Retrieved December 18, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Hotplate (Weizklamm). (PDF; 157 kB) www.styria-alpin.at, accessed on December 18, 2015 .
- ↑ Peter Hacker: Karst hydrological investigations in the Weizer Bergland , p. 35 ff. Wasserwirtschaft.steiermark.at (PDF; 6 MB); accessed on January 31, 2015
- ↑ Weizer Bergland water reserve, LGBl. No. 58/2009. wasserwirtschaft.steiermark.at (PDF; 996 KB), accessed on January 31, 2015
- ↑ Adolf Stebegg: limestone quarrying at Wolf saddle was averted . Naturschutzbund Steiermark 2011. naturschutzbundsteiermark.at ( Memento of the original from February 14, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed July 21, 2015
