Gorges are magical places, where the land is split and mountains are divided. The alpine canyons were formed in the last ice age around 10,000 years ago and have being changing ever since, albeit ever so slowly. Time and water has shaped and sculptured their curved walls with the seasons. Right after the winter the big thaw begins, which amounts to a sudden thunder of white water gushing through the narrowest parts of the Alps. The noise of nature, in full force relieves itself as it prepares itself for the next season.
I was drawn to photograph these gorges as I've always lived close to the sea, these gorges are Austria's shores. The wildness of the sea can also be found in the gorge. While Austria maybe missing its coastline, there are smooth pebbles, rocks to climb upon, hidden coves to be discovered, the sound of crashing water and even sand. The aquatic life that use to exist is preserved permanantly as fossils in the walls and stones. A history of seashells, shark teeth, ammonites, sea urchins and sea snails can be found in many of these ravines.
In photographing this project, I hope to capture the narrowness, the curves, the shapes and how each "Klamm" has it own unique identity. They are timeless wonders in comparison to our own lives. Many were opened as tourist attractions in the late 1800's in the images captured at this time very little, if anything has changed. The rock geology on offer is quite diverse even in a single location.
There are well over hundred to choose from. Some are more popular while others remain hidden away by only a small sign leading you up a path into a forest or by asking a local farmer to point you in the right direction.
On overcast days, when the sky is completely white or gray from clouds, this creates an even and soft light. The lightbox of the sky as I call it, will let you photograph without the worry of having a bright skies casting a dark black shadows. Allowing you to capture the full beauty of these narrow rock wonders, curves, shapes and form.
On the map you can follow my Gorges of Austria Tour - no set dates, I just go when the weather says so. As I'm based in Ramsau am Dachstein the concentration has being around Salzburgerland and Styria. There are plenty of Gorges within Austria close or even more than 200 of them. How many I will cover I'm not sure but each one brings new discoveries.
Rock Art
It also appears many of these gorge have rock art, Felszeichnungen in german. Particular in Upper Austria at the Kienbachklamm. While also the Wörschachklamm which I must return to seek them out.
Gorges of Austria Tour
Loading the Google Map of the Gorges into a GPS Device i.e Garmin
Cut'n'Paste this url: http://maps.google.com/maps/mm?ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=47.502359,13.370361&spn=4.74253,11.184082&z=7
into the TakeItWithMe website http://www.takitwithme.com/ and that's it. (You'll need to have the Garmin Communicator plug-in installed, it works for Mac and PC).
Visiting Gorges in Winter
Most gorges within Austria are open from May to the end of October. After this period they are locked up tight, walkways are usually completely covered or filled with snowfall. This also adds considerable amount of weight increasing the risk of paths collapsing. There is also the high risk of avalanches. However there are few gorge which are accessible and safe to visit. But getting close to the water and rock structures can be extremely difficult due to the sheer amount of solid ice. Many of the gorges are privately maintained, so apart from the dangers of avalanches, permission may be required.
Gorge List
I intend to keep this list up to date as I visit and research.
Erlebnispfad Leutaschklamm / Leutaschklamm / Geisterklamm (Information) Note: The older path lower down close to the gorge appears to be the most interesting to photograph.
B Backofen Balbersteine, Schlucht der Barbarossaschlucht Bärenklamm Bärenschützklamm Burggrabenklamm (Burgauklamm) Bürser
C Chorinskyklause Constantia-
D Dabaklamm, Daberklamm Daxerklamm Deutschlandsberg, Klause von Dittelbachwildnis Dobelklamm Dr. Vogelgesang-Klamm Donnersbacher Klamm Dornaubergklamm Dürnbachklamm
E Ebriachklamm Ehnbachklamm Ehrwald, Wasserfall und Klamm Eibentalklamm Eiblklamm Eng Engelschlucht Engenlochschlucht Entenlochklamm Eppzirler Klamm Erlaufschlucht Erlebnispfad Leutaschklamm Erlebniswelt Mendlingtal
G Gadaunerer Gailbergschlucht Gaislochklamm Gaissteig Galitzenklamm Garneraschlucht Garnitzenklamm Gasteiner Klamm Gasteiner Wasserfall Geißlochklamm Gerlamoos, Klamm bei Gesäuse Gießenbachklamm/Mühlviertel Gießenbachklamm/Scharnitz Gimbach-Kaskaden Glasenbachklamm Gleirschklamm Gnoppitzklamm Gosauzwang Graggerschlucht Griesbachklamm Gröbming, Öfen bei Groppensteinschlucht Große Klause Große im Reichraminger Hintergebirge Gruft Günster Wasserfall
H Hachleschlucht Hagenbachklamm Hartberg, Brühl von Has(s)lerschlucht Heiligengeistklamm Heindlbödenschlucht Herbersteinklamm Hexenloch Hintere Tormäuer Hirschensprung- Höhenbachschlucht Hölle Höllental Höll-Leitenbach-Wasserfall Huberklamm
I In der Noth Innersbachklamm Iselschlucht
J Johannesbachklamm
K Kaiserklamm Kaltenbachwildnis Kammersee, "Schluchtkanal" Kesselfall Kesselfallklamm Kesselschlucht Kienbachklamm Kirchle Kitzlochklamm Klabautersteig (Mauthner K.) Klamm der Uwelöcher Klammgraben Klammleiten Klamm/Semmering Klamschlucht Klause/Mödling - Hinterbrühl Klausschlucht Kleine Klause Klinzerschlucht Kobelach, der Kogler Wasserfälle Kommaschlucht Koppenschlucht Kraig, Waldschlucht von Kranebitter Krippklamm Kuhloch Kühtrainschlucht Kundler Klamm Kupitzklamm
L Lahnbachgraben Lammerklamm (Lammeröfen) Lange Brücke Lassingfall Lassnitzklamm Lavanter Kirchbühel, Schluchten um den Leitenkammerklamm Lenzenschlucht Leutaschklamm Liechtensteinklamm Liembachklamm Lieserschlucht Lohnbachschlucht (-fall)
M Maria an der Klamm (Maria Klamm) Marienklamm Marienwasserfall Mauthner Klamm Mayrbergklamm Mendlinger Trift Mödling, Klause bei Möslklamm Mühlbachschlucht
N NBO-Schluchtweg Nixenfall Notgasse Noth, Die Noth, In der Nothklamm/Gams Notklamm im Klausgraben
O Ochsenschluchtklamm Öfen bei Gröbming Öfenschlucht Olsaklamm Örflaschlucht Ossiach, von Ötschergräben
P Palfauer Wasserlochklamm Pesenbachtal Pitzenklamm Pitzenschlucht Plötz Pöllau, Brühl von Prosseggklamm
