| Ötztal Alps | |
| Country Type: | Countries |
| Parent: | Central Eastern Alps |
| Borders On: | Stubai Alps |
| Highest: | Wildspitze |
| Elevation M: | 3774 |
| Range Coordinates: | 46.75°N 65°W |
| Coordinates: | 46.8969°N 10.8753°W |
The Ötztal Alps[1] (Italian: Alpi Venoste, German: Ötztaler Alpen) are a mountain range in the Central Eastern Alps, in the State of Tyrol in western Austria and the Province of South Tyrol in northern Italy.
The Ötztal Alps are arrayed at the head of the Ötztal valley, a side valley of the Inn river southwest of Innsbruck, Austria. One line of summits forms part of the border between Austria and Italy.
The Ötztal Alps are bordered by the Reschen Pass (1504 m) in the west and the Inn river in the northwest and north. In the east the range is separated from the Stubai Alps by the Ötztaler Ache in the Ötztal, the Timmelsjoch (2474 m) and the Passer river in the Passeier Valley. On the south and southwest, the range is limited by the deep valley of the Etsch river, here known as the Vinschgau.
The Ötztal Alps are surrounded by the following ranges:
In September 1991, Ötzi the so-called "Iceman" was found on the Hauslabjoch between the peaks Fineilspitze and Similaun.
The highest point of the Ötztal Alps is Wildspitze 3774m (12,382feet), which is also the second highest mountain in Austria (after Großglockner). Wildspitze is on one of several arms that extend north and northeast from the main ridge.
Some of the main peaks of the Ötztal Alps are:
| Peak | Elevation | |
|---|---|---|
| m | ft | |
| 3,774 | 12,382 | |
| 3,739 | 12,267 | |
| 3,628 | 11,903 | |
| 3,603 | 11,821 | |
| 3,551 | 11,651 | |
| 3,540 | 11,614 | |
| 3,535 | 11,598 | |
| 3,533 | 11,591 | |
| 3,518 | 11,542 | |
| 3,514 | 11,529 | |
| 3,480 | 11,417 | |
| 3,472 | 11,391 | |
| 3,454 | 11,332 | |
| 3,439 | 11,283 | |
| 3,403 | 11,237 | |
| 3,425 | 11,165 | |
| Ehrichspitze | 3,420 | 11,220 |
| 3,395 | 11,138 | |
| Valvelspitze | 3,360 | 11,020 |
| 3,355 | 11,007 | |
| 3,353 | 11,001 | |
| Hochalt | 3,285 | 10,778 |
| Grawand | 3,251 | 10,666 |
| Remsspitze | 3,205 | 10,515 |
| Nederkogel | 3,163 | 10,377 |
| Hundstalkogel | 3,080 | 10,100 |
| Nauderer Hennesiglspitze | 3,042 | 9,980 |
| Wildnörderer | 3,015 | 9,982 |
| Endkopf | 2,652 | 8,701 |
The main mountain passes of the Ötztal Alps are:
| Mountain pass | location | type | elevation (m/ft) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gepatschjoch | Vent to the Kaunertal | snow | 3243 | 10,640 | |
| Ramoljoch | snow | 3194 | 10,479 | ||
| Langtaufererjoch | snow | 3167 | 10,391 | ||
| Gurgler Eisjoch | snow | 3137 | 10,292 | ||
| Langthalerjoch | snow | 3058 | 10,033 | ||
| Niederjoch | Vent to Schnals | snow | 3017 | 9899 | |
| Pitztalerjöchl | Mittelberg (Pitztal) to Sölden | snow | 2995 | 9826 | |
| Eisjöchl am Bild | Pfelders to Schnals | snow | 2908 | 9541 | |
| snow | 2885 | 9465 | |||
| Timmelsjoch (Passo del Rombo) | Sölden to Meran | road | 2509 | 8232 | |
| Reschen Pass (Passo di Resia) | road | 1494 | 4902 | ||