Hohe Tauern window

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This article is about the geology of the (European) Alps. For the main article see: geology of the Alps
Geology of the Alps
Tectonic subdivision

Helvetic Zone

Penninic nappes
Austroalpine nappes
Southern Alps
Formations & rocks

Bündner schist | flysch | molasse

Geological structures

Aarmassif | Dent Blanche klippe | Engadine window | Flysch zone | Giudicárie line | Greywacke zone | Hohe Tauern window | Molasse basin | Penninic thrustfront | Periadriatic Seam | Ivrea zone | Lepontin dome | Rechnitz window | Rhône-Simplon line | Sesia unit

Paleogeographic terminology

Valais Ocean

Briançonnais zone
Piemont-Liguria Ocean
Apulian or Adriatic plate

The Hohe Tauern window is a geological structure in the Austrian Central Eastern Alps. It is a window (in German fenster) in the Austroalpine nappes where high-grade metamorphic rocks of the underlying Penninic nappes crop out. The structure is caused by a large dome-like antiform in the nappe stacks of the Alps.

The relatively hard rocks of the Hohe Tauern window are more resistant to erosion, so the window has a high relief. The mountain chains thus formed are called the Hohe Tauern. Most of Austria’s highest mountains are in the Hohe Tauern, among them the Großglockner (3798 m) and Großvenediger (3674 m).

See also

  • Penninic nappes

Coordinates: 47°00′N 12°30′E / 47.000°N 12.500°E / 47.000; 12.500

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