Kalkalpen National Park - Wild Ditch - Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Reichraming, Austria
08.06.2019
The National Park Kalkalpen - Wilder Graben is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Reichraming, Austria. It was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1997 due to its significant cultural and natural value.
The park covers an area of 20,000 hectares and is characterized by its rugged terrain and diverse landscapes. The Wilder Graben, or "Wild Ravine," is the main attraction of the park and is a deep and narrow gorge formed by the Steyr River. It is surrounded by steep cliffs and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
The history of the National Park Kalkalpen dates back to the 18th century when it was used as a hunting ground by the Habsburg dynasty. In the 19th century, it was turned into a royal forest and was used for timber production. However, due to unsustainable logging practices, the area suffered from deforestation and erosion.
In the late 20th century, the Austrian government recognized the importance of preserving this unique area and designated it as a national park in 1997. The park is now managed by the Austrian Federal Forestry Office and is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species.
One of the highlights of the National Park Kalkalpen is the Ludwig Fuchs House, a traditional mountain hut located in the heart of the park. Built in the 19th century, it offers visitors a glimpse into the life of a mountain farmer and is a popular spot for hikers and nature lovers.
Other notable attractions in the park include the Kirchdorf Forest Museum, where visitors can learn about the history of forestry in the region, and the Cumberland Wildpark, a wildlife park where visitors can observe native animals in their natural habitat.
Visitors to the National Park Kalkalpen can also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife watching. The park is also home to several educational programs and initiatives, aimed at promoting sustainable tourism and conservation efforts.
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This transnational property includes 93 component parts in 18 countries. Since the end of the last Ice Age, European Beech spread from a few isolated refuge areas in the Alps, Carpathians, Dinarides, Mediterranean and Pyrenees over a short period of a few thousand years in a process that is still ongoing. The successful expansion across a whole continent is related to the tree’s adaptability and tolerance of different climatic, geographical and physical conditions.
Kalkalpen National Park (in English literally Limestone Alps National Park) is a national park within the Northern Limestone Alps mountain range, located in the state of Upper Austria, Austria. The park was established in 1997. The ancient beech forests within the national park were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe, because of their undisturbed nature and testimony to the ecological history of Europe since the Last Glacial Period.
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe is a transnational serial nature UNESCO World Heritage Site, encompassing 93 component parts (forests of European beech, Fagus sylvatica) in 18 European countries. Together, the sites protect the largest and least disturbed forests dominated by the beech tree. In many of these stands, especially those in the Carpathians, beech forests have persisted without interruption or interference since the last ice age. These sites document the undisturbed postglacial repopulation of the species.
