(B) MAIN DIVISIONS OF THE ALPS

(k) Vindelician Alps

Reference has already been made to the contrast offered by the orderly arrangement of the Eastern Alps, as compared with the far more complicated and irregular disposition of the masses that make up the Western and Central Alps. In the former we have a broad zone of crystalline or metamorphic palæozoic rocks, extending from the upper valley of the adage to the frontier of Hungary, flanked on either side by a parallel zone of secondary rocks, which rise into peaks that do not much exceed the limit of perpetual snow. The northern zone extends for a distance of fully 260 miles from Lake of Constance to the neighborhood of Vienna, with an average width varying from 30 to 40 miles. For the greater part of that distance this is separated from the central range by broad and deep valleys, through which the Inn, Salza, and Enns flow from west to East, till each of them, turn abruptly northward, runs through an opening that cuts across the general strike of the stratification to reach the plain of South Germany. In geological structure and general aspect the mountains of this tract show many common characteristics, and convenience supplies the only good reason for dividing it into two main groups separated by the valley of the Inn, the greatest of the tributaries which the Alps send to the Danube. Of the western portion of this region the larger part belongs to Bavaria, but a considerable share lies in the Austrian provinces of Tyrol and Vorarlberg; and on this account the designations Bavarian Alps and North Tyrol Alps are open to objection, and have the further disadvantage of excluding the Alpine districts of Bavaria and North Tyrol lying east of the Inn. The name Suabian Alps is liable to the serious objection that none but a very small part of this district was ever included in the circle of Suabia. On the whole, it seems that the region lying north of the Vorarlberg road and the valley of the Inn, between the Lake of Constance and the latter river, may best be termed the Vindelician Alps. The whole was included within the territory of the Vindelici before that powerful tribe was conquered by the Romans, and their territory joined to that of the Rhætians to form a single Roman province. In height the mountains of this division fall considerably short of those hitherto enumerated, not more than four or five exceeding 9000 feet. It is impossible to consider a map of this region without being struck by the fact, that although the general slope inclines northward towards the plain of Bavaria, or southward towards the Ill and the Inn, nearly all the ridges and minor valleys lie east and west parallel to the course of those rivers and to the outcrop of the sedimentary strata, which is equally the direction of the line of depression followed by the Vorarlberg road forming the southern boundary of this group.

Chief Peaks of the Vindelician Alps

Mittagspitz…………………. 6,851 Miemingergebirge (highest) 8,856
Rothewand…………………. 8,842 Karwandlspitz……………… 8,259
Schafberg…………………... 8,774 Kreuzpitz…………………… 7,156
Madelegabel……………….. 8,674 Solstein……………………… 8,649
Biberkopf…………………... 8,543 Edkorspitz…….……………. 8,911
Widderstein………………... 8,294 Lavatscherspitz…………….. 9,081
Hoch Vogel………………… 8,501 Vomperjoch………………… 7,505
Stanzerkopf………………... 9,041 Soiernspitz………………….. 7,303
Muttekopf………………….. 9,077 Juifen……………………….. 7,144
Zugspitz……………………. 9,716





Chief Passes in the Vendelician Alps

Arlberg Pass (Bludenz to Landeck), carriage road……………… 5,902
Haldenwanger Eck (Schrecken to Oberstdorf), footpath……….. 6,070
Schrofen Pass (Oberstdorf to Steg in Lechthal), bridle-path…… 5,569
Madelejoch (Oberstdorf to Holzgau), footpath…………. About.. 7,000
Kaiserjoch (Steg to Petneu in Stanzerthal), footpath……about.. 7,000
Zamserjoch (Elbigen Alp to Landeck or Imst), footpath about.. 7,000
Fern Pass (Lermoos to Telfs), carriage road……………………. 4,063
Seefeld Pass (Partenkirch to Zirl), carriage road………………. 3,900
Geissel Pass (Mittenwald to Lermoos), footpath………………... 4,258
Stempeljoch (Scharnitz to Hall), footpath……………………….. 7,346
Haller Anger (Scharnitz to Schwaz), footpath…………………… 5,835
Plumserjoch (Hinter-Riss to Pertisau), bridle-path……………... 5,492
Pfans Joch (Fall to Pertisau), footpath………………….. about.. 5,800
Stockeralp Pass (Schliersee to Brixlegg), bridle-path….. about.. 4,000
Horhag Pass (Bairisch-zell to Kufstein), bridle-path…… about.. 4,000





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