List of highest mountains of Germany

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Location of the highest major summits in Germany Karte der hochsten Hauptgipfel Deutschlands.png
Location of the highest major summits in Germany

This is a list of the highest mountains in Germany. All of these mountains are located in the federal state of Bavaria. They lie within the Alps in the region known as the Eastern Alps and are part of the Northern Limestone Alps. The majority belong to the mountain ranges of the Wetterstein, Berchtesgaden Alps and Allgäu Alps.

Contents

Because the definition of a mountain is not universally agreed, a distinction is made between main summits and other peaks. Subsidiary summits or subpeaks are not counted. In the Alps a summit is classed as independent, according to the UIAA definition, if it has a prominence of 30 metres or more. In order for a peak to qualify as an independent mountain, however, it must have a prominence of at least 300 metres. [1] Based on this definition only the main summits of entire mountain massifs are counted. All elevations with a prominence below 30 metres are considered as subpeaks. [2]

By these definitions, the highest mountains in Germany are the Zugspitze (2,962 m), Hochwanner (2,746 m) and Watzmann (Middle Peak, 2,713 m). If all independent summits are counted, the Zugspitze is followed by the Schneefernerkopf (2,875 m) and the Middle Wetterspitze (2,747 m) in places two and three. Both are however, part of the Zugspitze massif and lie relatively close to the summit of the Zugspitze itself.

The highest mountain which lies entirely on German soil is the Watzmann with a height of 2,713 metres, followed by the Hochkalter (2,607 m), the Großer Daumen (2,280 m) and the Höfats (2,259 m). Likewise fully on German territory, but considerably less independent, are the Middle Höllentalspitze (2,742 m) and the Hochblassen (2,703 m).

A majority of the summits were verifiably climbed in the 19th century; the Watzmann and Hoher Göll for example as early as 1800. The Zugspitze was officially climbed for the first time in 1820. However, there are many peaks of which it is suspected had been climbed in earlier times by unknown climbers.

Because the borders of Germany have often changed during the course of the centuries, there were different "highest mountains" in the past. For example, during the time of the Holy Roman Empire up to 1806, the Ortler in present-day South Tyrol, at 3,905 m, was the highest German mountain. During the colonial period to 1918 Mount Kilimanjaro in the colony of German East Africa, at 5,895 m, was officially the highest mountain of the German Reich. During the Nazi era from 1938 to 1945 this title went to the Großglockner which, at 3,797 m, is today the highest mountain in Austria.

Key

There may be differences in data from other sources. The tables use the tables of the German height reference system, based on height above Normalnull (~sea level) in Amsterdam, and data from the Bavarian Survey Office (Bayerischen Vermessungsverwaltung). [3]

The highest summits

Table 1 below shows the 30 highest independent summits in Germany. A summit or peak requires a prominence of over 30 metres in order to count as independent.

By clicking on the symbols at the head of the table the individual columns may be sorted.

Ranking
PhotographPeakHeight
(m)
Mountain rangeMassifIsolation
(km)
Prominence
(m)
First climb
1 ZugspitzeJubilaeumsgratHoellental.JPG Zugspitze 2,962 Wetterstein Zugspitze24.6
Acherkogel
1,746
West of the Fernpass
27.08.1820
Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl, Acolyte Maier1
2 Zugspitze-Schneefernerkpf1.jpg Schneefernerkopf 2,874 Wetterstein Zugspitze1.7
Zugspitze
175
Schneeferner wind-gap
1871
Hermann von Barth
3 Zugspitze-Schneefernerkpf1.jpg Middle Wetterspitze 2,750 Wetterstein Zugspitze0.6
Schneefernerkopf
67
Wind-gap to the Schneefernerkopf
4 Hochwanner von S HQ.jpg Hochwanner 2,744 Wetterstein Hochwanner5.5
Zugspitze
701
Feldernjöchl
1870
Hermann von Barth
5 Hoellentalspitzen.jpg Middle Höllentalspitze 2,743 Wetterstein Zugspitze1.6
Zugspitze
116
Jubiläum arête wind-gap to the Zugspitze
1871
Hermann von Barth
6 Jubilaumsgrat West HQ.jpg Inner Höllentalspitze 2,741 Wetterstein Zugspitze0.6
Middle Höllentalspitze
90
Wind-gap to the Middle Höllentalspitze
09.09.1871
Hermann von Barth
7 Jubilaumsgrat Mitte von S HQ.jpg Outer Höllentalspitze 2,720 Wetterstein Zugspitze0.6
Middle Höllentalspitze
353
Wind-gap to the Middle Höllentalspitze
1871
Hermann von Barth
8 Watzmann Berchtesgaden.jpg Watzmann Middle Peak 2,713 Berchtesgaden Alps Watzmann15.9
Hochseiler
939
Trischübel Pass
Aug. 1800
Valentin Stanič
9 Watzmann3.jpg Watzmann South Peak 2,712 Berchtesgaden Alps Watzmann0.8
Watzmann Middle Peak
1103
Watzmann arête wind-gap
1832
Peter Carl Thurwieser
10 Zugspitze-Wettersteinkamm.jpg Hochblassen 2,703 Wetterstein Zugspitze1.1
Outer Höllentalspitze
143
Falsche Grießkar wind-gap
25.08.1871
Hermann von Barth, Peter Klaisl
11 Zugspitze-Schneefernerkpf1.jpg Wetterwandeck 2,698 Wetterstein Zugspitze0.5
Southern Wetterspitze
30
Wind-gap to the Eastern Wetterspitze
12 Leutascher Dreitorspitze MQ.jpg Leutascher Dreitorspitze 2,682 Wetterstein Dreitorspitze5.2
Hochwanner
346
Western Wang wind-gap
07.08.1871
Hermann von Barth
13 Zugspitze-Wettersteinkamm.jpg Eastern Plattspitze 2,680 Wetterstein Zugspitze1.1
Wetterwandeck
204
Wetter wind-gap
1871
Hermann von Barth
14 Hinterreintalschrofen 2,669 Wetterstein Hochwanner1.5
Hochwanner
109
Teufel arête wind-gap to the Hochwanner
01.09.1871
Hermann von Barth
15 Hochfrottspitze.jpg Hochfrottspitze 2,649 Allgäu Alps Hohes Licht 2.2
Hohes Licht
203
Sock valley wind-gap
16.06.1869
Hermann von Barth
16 Maedelegabel von Sueden.jpg Mädelegabel 2,645 Allgäu Alps Hohes Licht 0.4
Hochfrottspitze
81
Wind-gap to the Hochfrottspitze
1852
Oskar Sendtner [4] 4
17 Partenkirchner Dreitorspitze von S aus dem Leutascher Platt HQ.jpg Partenkirchner Dreitorspitze 2,633 Wetterstein Dreitorspitze0.5
Leutascher Dreitorspitze
1003
Wind-gap to the Leutascher Dreitorspitze
20.07.1854
Jakob Grasegger, Karl Kiendl
18 Alpspitze (Wetterstein).jpg Alpspitze 2,628 Wetterstein Zugspitze0.8
Hochblassen
165
Grießkar wind-gap
1825
J. Burger
19 Vollkarspitze 2,618 Wetterstein Zugspitze0.5
Hochblassen
403
Wind-gap to the Höllentalspitzen
1897
Ferdinand Henning2
20 Bockkarkopf 01.jpg Bockkarkopf 2,609 Allgäu Alps Hohes Licht 0.6
Hochfrottspitze
106
Bockkar wind-gap
21 Hochkaltergruppe.jpg Hochkalter 2,607 Berchtesgaden Alps Hochkalter4.5
Watzmann
621
Wimbach wind-gap
22 Partenkirchner Dreitorspitze von S aus dem Leutascher Platt HQ.jpg Northeastern Dreitorspitze 2,605 Wetterstein Dreitorspitze0.2
Dreitorspitze
403
Wind-gap to the Dreitorspitze
23 BiberkopfII.jpg Biberkopf 2,599 Allgäu Alps Biberkopf3.5
Hohes Licht
337
Große Stein wind-gap
18535
24 Trettachspitze.jpg Trettachspitze 2,595 Allgäu Alps Hohes Licht 0.4
Mädelegabel
1403
Wind-gap to the Mädelegabel
Aug 1855
Urban, Alois and Mathias Jochum
25 Grosser Hundstod.jpg Großer Hundstod 2,593 Berchtesgaden Alps Großer Hundstod4.5
Watzmann
474
Dießbach wind-gap
1825
Karl Thurwieser
26 Hochvogel vom jubilaeumsweg.jpg Hochvogel 2,592 Allgäu Alps Hochvogel5.4
Urbeleskarspitze
572
Hornbachjoch
1832
Trobitus
27 Stuhljoch-Funtenseetauern.JPG Funtenseetauern 2,578 Berchtesgaden Alps Selbhorn 4
Selbhorn
220
Hochbrunnsulzen
ca. 1865
Johann Grill, Albert Kaindl
28 Krottenspitze und Oefnerspitze.jpg Öfnerspitze 2,576 Allgäu Alps Großer Krottenkopf 0.7
Großer Krottenkopf
1613
Wind-gap to the Großen Krottenkopf
18545
29 Wetterstein01.jpg Schüsselkarspitze 2,551 Wetterstein Dreitorspitze0.3
Leutascher Dreitorspitze
603
Wind-gap to the Leutascher Dreitorspitze
1894
A. Moser, O. Schuster
30 Krottenspitze und Krottenspitzengrat.jpg Krottenspitze 2,551 Allgäu Alps Großer Krottenkopf0.3
Öfnerspitze
78
Wind-gap to the Öfnerspitze

The highest mountains

Table 2 below shows the 21 highest mountains in Germany. A mountain is considered to be the main summit of a massif if its prominence is more than 300 metres.

By clicking the symbols at the head of the table the individual column may be sorted.

Ranking
PhotographPeakHeight (m)
Mountain range4LocationIsolation (km)Prominence (m)First climb
on
1 ZugspitzeJubilaeumsgratHoellental.JPG Zugspitze 2,962 Wetterstein DE/AT 24.6
Acherkogel
1,746
West of the Fernpass
Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl, Acolyte Maier127.08.1820
2 Hochwanner von S HQ.jpg Hochwanner 2,744 Wetterstein DE/AT 5.5
Zugspitze
701
Feldernjöchl
Hermann von Barth 1870
3 Watzmann Berchtesgaden.jpg Watzmann Middle Peak 2,713 Berchtesgaden Alps DE 15.9
Hochseiler
939
Trischübel Pass
Valentin Stanič Aug 1800
4 Leutascher Dreitorspitze MQ.jpg Leutascher Dreitorspitze 2,682 Wetterstein DE/AT 5.2
Hochwanner
346
Western Wang wind-gap
Hermann von Barth 07.08.1871
5 Hochkaltergruppe.jpg Hochkalter 2,607 Berchtesgaden Alps DE 4.5
Watzmann
621
Wimbach wind-gap
6 BiberkopfII.jpg Biberkopf 2,599 Allgäu Alps DE/AT 3.5
Hohes Licht
337
Große Stein wind-gap
18532
7 Grosser Hundstod.jpg Großer Hundstod 2,593 Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 4.5
Watzmann
474
Dießbach wind-gap
Karl Thurwieser 1825
8 Hochvogel vom jubilaeumsweg.jpg Hochvogel 2,592 Allgäu Alps DE/AT 5.4
Urbeleskarspitze
572
Hornbachjoch
Trobitus1832
9 Vogelkarspitze bis Grabenkarspitze HQ.jpg Östliche Karwendelspitze 2,538 Karwendel DE/AT 3.5
Middle Ödkarspitze
736
Hochalm Saddle
Hermann von Barth 04.07.1870
10 Hocheisgruppe.jpg Hocheisspitze 2,523 Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 3
Hochkalter
410
Sittersbach wind-gap
Hermann von Barth 06.09.1868
11 HoherGoell.jpg Hoher Göll 2,522 Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 11.4
Watzmann
788
Torrener Joch
Valentin Stanič 04.09.1800
12 Hochkarspitze Woerner MQ.jpg Hochkarspitze 2,482 Karwendel DE/AT 42
Pleisenspitze
661
Bäralp Saddle
Hermann von Barth 1870
13 Die Teufelshorner.jpg Großes Teufelshorn 2,361 Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 3.8
Reißhorn
339
Blühnbachtörl
14 Kahlersberg 1.jpg Kahlersberg 2,350 Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 4.8
Großes Teufelshorn
3353
East of the Hintere Bärengrube
F. v. Schilcher, G. Helblehen1854
15 Stadelhorn von der Rosskarscharte.jpg Stadelhorn 2,286 Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 5.2
Wasserwandkopf
1,133
Hirschbichl Pass
Karl Thurwieser 1825
16 Grosser-Daumen.jpg Großer Daumen 2,280 Allgäu Alps DE 6.4
Kesselspitze
350
Höfatsblick summit station
17 Hoefats von Kaeseralpe.jpg Höfats 2,257 Allgäu Alps DE 2.7
Großer Wilder
477
Älple Saddle
Otto Sendtner 1848
18 Soiernspitze.jpg Soiernspitze 2,257 Karwendel DE 3.8
Wörner
833
West of the Vereiner-Alm
19 Ifen 250708b.jpg Hoher Ifen 2,229 Allgäu Alps DE/AT 7.7
Elferkopf
476
Gerach Saddle
20 Grosse Arnspitze.jpg Große Arnspitze 2,196 Wetterstein DE/AT 3.9
Upper Wetterstein peak
1,003
Northwest of Neuleutasch
21 Kreuzspitze von S HQ.jpg Kreuzspitze 2,185 Ammergau Alps DE 10.6
Daniel
1,182
Upper Schellbach valley

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zugspitze</span> Highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains (Eastern Alps)

The Zugspitze, at 2,962 m (9,718 ft) above sea level, is the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains and the highest mountain in Germany. It lies south of the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, and the Austria–Germany border is on its western summit. South of the mountain is the Zugspitzplatt, a high karst plateau with numerous caves. On the flanks of the Zugspitze are two glaciers, the largest in Germany: the Northern Schneeferner with an area of 30.7 hectares and Höllentalferner with an area of 24.7 hectares. Shrinking of the Southern Schneeferner led to the loss of glacier status in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watzmann</span> Mountain in Germany

The Watzmann is a mountain in the Berchtesgaden Alps south of the village of Berchtesgaden. It is the third highest in Germany, and the highest located entirely on German territory.

The Ester Mountains are a small mountain range in Bavaria. They are classified either as part of Bavarian Prealps or the larger chain of Northern Limestone Alps. The range stretches for about 15 kilometres. From the west it is bordered by the valley of the river Loisach and from the east by Walchensee lake and the valley of the river Isar. With its highest peak being Krottenkopf, the highest part of the range just exceeds 2,000 m. The range is of composed of limestone. The treeline is around 1,700 m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Topographic isolation</span> Topography measuring minimum distance to a point of equal elevation

The topographic isolation of a summit is the minimum distance to a point of equal elevation, representing a radius of dominance in which the peak is the highest point. It can be calculated for small hills and islands as well as for major mountain peaks and can even be calculated for submarine summits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wetterspitzen</span> Mountain ridge in the Wetterstein mountains in Germany

The Wetterspitzen are three of the rocky peaks on a mountain ridge in the Wetterstein mountains in the central part of the Eastern Alps in Germany. They lie two kilometres, as the crow flies, southwest of Germany's highest peak, the Zugspitze, on the border between the Austrian province of Tyrol and the German state of Bavaria. The Wetterspitzen form the southwest perimeter of the Zugspitze ledge (Zugspitzplatt); below and to the east is the ski region on the Schneeferner with its research station, the Schneefernerhaus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schneefernerkopf</span>

The Schneefernerkopf is a 2,875-metre-high (9,432 ft) peak in the Zugspitze massif in the Alps. It lies at the western end of the Wetterstein chain in the Alps on the border between the German state of Bavaria and the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is the dominant mountain in the Wetterstein, especially when viewed from Ehrwald.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hochwanner</span>

At 2,744 metres (9,003 ft), the Hochwanner is the second highest mountain in Germany after the Zugspitze. In addition the Hochwanner is the highest peak on the main ridge of the Wetterstein (Wettersteinhauptkamm) running from Gatterl to the Upper Wettersteinspitze above Mittenwald in an east–west direction. From the Hochwanner massif there is an all-round view of the Rein valley (Reintal), the Leutasch valley in Austria, the Gais valley, the Zugspitze, the Mieming Chain, the Jubiläumsgrat, the Karwendel mountains and far into the central Alps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wetterwandeck</span>

The Wetterwandeck is a summit, 2,698 m high, in the Wetterstein mountains on the Austro-German border. It is located south of Germany's highest peak, the Zugspitze, above the Southern Schneeferner in the ridge which borders the Zugspitzplatt to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellmauer Halt</span> Mountain peak in the Kaiser range in Tyrol, Austria

The Ellmauer Halt (2,344 m) is the highest peak in the mountain massif of the Wilder Kaiser in the Kaiser range in the Austrian state of Tyrol. To the east is the summit of the Kapuzenturm, a striking and isolated rock pinnacle. In 1883 the first summit cross was erected on the mountain top.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Große Arnspitze</span>

The Große Arnspitze is the highest peak in the Arnspitze Group in the Wettersteingebirge mountains. It is located west of Scharnitz in Austria. The border between Germany and Austria runs over its summit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoher Göll</span> Mountain on the Austrian-German border

The Hoher Göll is a 2,522 m (8,274 ft) mountain in the Berchtesgaden Alps. It is the highest peak of the Göll massif, which straddles the border between the German state of Bavaria and the Austrian state of Salzburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hocheisspitze</span>

The Hocheisspitze is a 2,523 m high mountain in the Berchtesgaden Alps, over which the border between Germany and Austria runs. It is also the highest mountain in the eponymous Hocheis Group that belongs to the Hochkalter Massif.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steinernes Meer</span>

The Steinernes Meer is a high karst plateau in the Northern Limestone Alps. As one of the nine sub-ranges of the Berchtesgaden Alps the Steinernes Meer belongs partly to Bavaria and partly to Salzburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riffelwandspitzen</span> Two mountains in Bavaria, Germany

The Riffelwandspitzen are two adjacent mountains in the Wetterstein range in Bavaria. The summit of the Great Riffelwandspitze reaches a height of 2,626 m, the summit of the Little Riffelwandspitze 2,543 m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel (mountain)</span>

The Daniel is a mountain in the Austrian state of Tyrol, and the highest peak in the Ammergau Alps, a range within the Northern Limestone Alps . Located near the villages of Ehrwald and Lermoos, it is a popular mountain with hikers. Its North Face is around 200 metres high and its South Face has a more schrofen-like character. With the almost equally high Upsspitze (2,332 m) it forms a double summit. To the northwest is a neighbouring peak, the Hochschrutte (2,247 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Schafalpenkopf</span>

The Second Schafalpenkopf, also Middle Schafalpenkopf is a 2,302-metre-high mountain in the Allgäu Alps. It is part of the Schafalpenköpfe and the Mindelheim Klettersteig.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gehrenspitze (Allgäu Alps)</span>

At 2,163 metres, the Gehrenspitze is the third highest mountain in the Tannheim Group and is situated in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It should not be confused with the Gehrenspitze in the Wetterstein Mountains.

References

  1. Or a prominence of 100m according to other authorities.
  2. "The Viertausender of the Alpen – Offizielles UIAA-Verzeichnis" (PDF) (in German). UIAA. March 1994. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  3. Bayerische Vermessungsverwaltung. "Bayernviewer". Bayerische Staatsregierung. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  4. "Von Abenteurern and Bergpionieren". allgaeuer-anzeigeblatt.de. 2005. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  5. 1 2 Andrea Händel (2006). "Historische Zugspitzkarte". alpenverein.de. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2009.

Literature