Limestone Alps

The Limestone Alps (German: Kalkalpen) are a mountain ranges system of the Alps in Central Europe.

They are of economic importance, including as a watershed source of drinking water. They have many accessible dripstone and ice caves.

Geography

They are roughly 600 kilometres (370 mi) long. The two main groups run parallel to the main Austrian Central Alps mountain ranges, on their north and south.

The mountain and hill profiles of the Limestone Alps are very varied and range from jagged peaks and shear rock faces to high plateaus and extensive areas of karst formatons.

Groups

The numerous ranges of the Limestone Alps are within three mountain groupings, the Northern Limestone Alps, Southern Limestone Alps, and Western Limestone Alps:

• The Northern Limestone Alps are in Austria and Bavaria, Germany. Its ranges include: the Allgäu Alps, Berchtesgaden Alps, Chiemgau Alps, Ennstal Alps, Salzburg Slate Alps, Türnitz Alps, Vienna Woods foothills, Ybbstal Alps
• The Southern Limestone Alps are in Austria, northern Italy, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Its ranges include: the Dolomites, Carnic Alps, Julian Alps, Ortler Alps, Rhaetian Alps, and Vicentine Alps.
• The Western Limestone Alps are in Austria and Switzerland. Its ranges include: the Albula Alps, Bergamasque Alps, Livigno Alps, Oberhalbstein Alps, and Plessur Alps

Geology

The Limestone Alps are made of lighter and more porous rock. In addition to limestone, they also contain dolomite, marl, and sandstone. They are unlike the Central Alps, which are mainly composed of crystalline rock (granite and gneiss), or of slate.

See also

• Mountain ranges of the Alps
• Limestone Alps National Park