| Salzach | |
|---|---|
The Salzach in Laufen, Germany |
|
| Origin | Kitzbühel Alps |
| Mouth | Inn |
| Basin countries | Austria, Germany |
| Length | 225 km |
| Avg. discharge | 251 m³/s |
| Basin area | 6,700 km² |
The Salzach is a river in Austria and Germany. It is a right tributary of the Inn and is 225 kilometres (140 mi) in length.
The river's name is derived from the German word Salz, meaning "salt". Until the 19th century shipping of salt down the river was an important part of the local economy. The shipping ended when railways replaced the old transport system.
It is the main river of the Austrian state of Salzburg. The source is located in the Kitzbühel Alps near Krimml, Western Salzburg. Its headstreams drain several alpine pastures at around 2,300 m above sea level between Krimml and the Tyrolean state border, 3-5 km north of the Gerlos Pass on the slopes of the Salzachgeier (2,466 m AA) and the Schwebenkopf (2,354 m).
From here it runs eastwards until Schwarzach im Pongau, then turns northwards and passes the cities of Hallein and Salzburg. Then it forms the border between Bavaria, Germany and Austria for almost 70 kilometres (43 mi). Cities on the banks in this last section include Laufen, Tittmoning and Burghausen. All these towns have border crossings. The river finally joins the Inn near Braunau.
Upper and lower reaches: Putzengraben, Trattenbach and Dürnbach from the Kitzbühel Alps, Krimmler Ache, Obersulzbach, Untersulzbach, Habach, Hollersbach, Felberbach, Stubache, Kapruner Ache from the High Tauern, Pinzga from Lake Zell, Fuscher Ache, Rauriser Ache from the High Tauern, Dientener Bach from the Slate Alps, Gasteiner Ache, Großarlbach, Kleinarlbach from the High Tauern, Fritzbach from the Dachstein Massif, Mühlbach and Blühnbach from the Hochkönig.
Lower reaches: Lammer from the east, Torrener Bach (Bluntautal) from the Berchtesgaden Alps, Tauglbach and Almbach from the Hintersee, both from the Osterhorn Group, Königsseeache from the Königssee, Kehlbach, Fischach from the Wallersee, Klausbach, Saalach the largest tributaries, Sur and Götzinger Achen on the Bavarian side, Oichten near Oberndorf and Moosach in the Salzburg-Upper Austrian border region.