The Karwendel is the largest
mountain range of the
Northern Limestone Alps. The major part belongs to the
Austrian federal state of
Tyrol, while the adjacent area in the north is part of
Bavaria,
Germany. Four
chains stretch from west to east; in addition, there are a number of fringe ranges and an extensive
promontory (Vorkarwendel) in the north.
The mountaineer
Hermann von Barth created the tradition of naming the Karwendel chains ranges after the valleys limiting them in the south: Karwendel valley,
Hinterau valley and Vomper Loch, Gleirsch valley,
Hall valley, and
Inn valley:
Nordkette (a.k.a. Solstein Range or Inn Valley Range).
Side ranges are the
Erlspitze Group, Soiern Group and Vorkarwendel, Falken Group, Gamsjoch Group and Sonnjoch Group.
Peaks
There are 125 peaks in the Karwendel that reach heights of over 2,000 metres. The most important are listed below together with some notable peaks between 1,800 and 2,000 metres high.