Servus dear Steemians!
This is my first try of an english version, i hope you can read my text well. As you might have noticed at my Appics Posts, I spent last weekend in the Tyrolean Ötztal, more precisely in the famous ski resort Sölden. The weather was like a picture book. A bright blue sky and mild temperatures made for perfect skiing fun. The glacier peaks of the Ötztaler Alps reach over 3,000 metres above sea level. Here you will not only find a fantastic panorama of the Tirolean Alps, but also crisp piste conditions despite spring temperatures.
The village of Sölden lies at 1,368 metres above sea level and with more than 15,000 guest beds and 2 million overnight stays per year, it is one of the most important tourist regions in Tyrol. The Ötztal was once inhabited only by farming villages until later trade with Italy led through the valley. The Ötztal experienced a significant upswing since the end of the first worldwar, when winter sports became popular with tourists. Today Sölden has 39 skilifts and 146 kilometres of pistes, so it is one of the largest and most modern ski resorts in Austria.
With the "BIG 3", three 3,000 m peaks (Gaislachkogl 3,058 m, Schwarze Schneid 3,370 m, Tiefenbachkogl 3,309 m) rise into the heights, all of which can be skied on. Between the Tiefenbachkogl and the Innere Schwarzen Schneid are the Rettenbachglacier and the Tiefenbachglacier, where you can practice winter sports all year round.
Here you can find more informations about the ski resort Sölden
The Rettenbachferner in Sölden is the venue of the Alpine Ski World Cup, which is held every year at the end of October at the start of the season and provides a huge crowd of fans and an exciting ski race. In April, the glacier also hosts the spectacular glacier spectacle "Hannibal " every year. A amazing real-life Alpine crossing Show. At 3,000 metres above sea level, dancers, avalanches, snow groomers, base jumpers, aeroplanes, helicopters, skiidoos, paragliders and skiers amaze more than 8,000 spectators. The biggest show in the Alps, showing Hannibals crossing the main Alpine ridge in 218 BC with a colourful army of 60,000 Africans, Celts, Spaniards, thousands of horses and 37 elephants.
Here you can find all informations about the Hannibal Show, which takes place this year on April 12th.
Here you can see a trailer of the Hannibal Glacier-Show:
In the back Ötztal there is another great skiing area. Obergurgl/Hochgurgl is also a ski resort with guaranteed snow like Sölden, which has 25 skilifts and 114 km of pistes. If you take the chair lift up to the Wurmkogel (3.082), you will find the border Austria/Italy directly on the other side of the mountain. From this point you can even see as far as the Italian Dolomites on a clear day.
In 1991, the famous glacier mummy "Ötzi " was found on the South Tyrolean side, which belongs to Italy, right near the state border. The name "Ötzi " is of course derived from the Ötztal. The "Iceman" lived around 3,300 B.C. and was preserved in the eternal ice during the attempt to cross the Ötztal Alps.
On Wikipedia you can find all informations About the „Iceman“.
I hope you enjoyed my contribution about Sölden and the Ötztal. Maybe I was able to convince you to visit this beautiful place in the austrian Alps. James Bond fans can look forward to the second part of my contribution, because Sölden was a spectacular location of the last movie "Spectre".
Greetings, Lukas!
The photos were taken by myself and are displayed in large format by clicking on them.
