Wattental
Encyclopedia
The Wattental is a southern side valley
of the Inn valley.
The valley, through which the Wattenbach stream flows, is incised deeply into the quartz
-phyllite
rock of the Tux Prealps. The two dispersed settlement
s of Wattenberg
and Vögelsberg (in the municipality of Wattens
) sprawl across the outer part of the valley. At the head of the valley is the Wattentaler Lizum
and its military training area of Lizum Walchen which is run by the Austrian Armed Forces. The Wattentaler Lizum lies entirely on the territory of Wattenberg.
The Wattental produces a high level of water power thanks to its large catchment area which is why internationally successful firms such as Swarovski
, and Wattenspapier have been established in the village of Wattens
by the River Inn. The Wattental was and is therefore the reason behind the economic boom of the market village of Wattens which has made it one of the wealthiest municipalities in Austria.
The valley is a popular recreation area. The summits of the Rotwandspitze, Hirzer and Hahneburger have outstanding views and can be climbed from bases in the valley. In the upper part of the valley (Mölsberg
) access is limited by the military training area.
On the first Sunday after the Assumption
a service, the Mölsberg Mass (Mölsbergmesse) takes place at the summit cross
of the Mölsberg in the middle of the Wattentaler Lizum
, which is a memorial service to those from the valley who fell in the two world wars. On that day the training area is opened to private vehicles; normally it is out-of-bounds.
At the head of the valley is a small lake, the Mölssee.
Side valley
The terms side valley and tributary valley refer to valleys whose brook or river is confluent to a greater one.Upstream, the valleys can be classified in an increasing order which is equivalent to the usual orographic order: the tributaries are ordered from those nearest to the source of the river...
of the Inn valley.
The valley, through which the Wattenbach stream flows, is incised deeply into the quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
-phyllite
Phyllite
Phyllite is a type of foliated metamorphic rock primarily composed of quartz, sericite mica, and chlorite; the rock represents a gradation in the degree of metamorphism between slate and mica schist. Minute crystals of graphite, sericite, or chlorite impart a silky, sometimes golden sheen to the...
rock of the Tux Prealps. The two dispersed settlement
Dispersed settlement
A dispersed settlement is one of the main types of settlement patterns used by landscape historians to classify rural settlements found in England and other parts of the world....
s of Wattenberg
Wattenberg
Wattenberg is a municipality in the district of Innsbruck-Land and is located 15 km east of Innsbruck and 2.50 km above the Swarovski Crystal Town Wattens.-External links:* Municipality Wattenberg: Official website of the municipality in the...
and Vögelsberg (in the municipality of Wattens
Wattens
Wattens is a market community in Austria which is the home of the Swarovski Kristallwelten, dedicated to the history surrounding the company, the man himself Daniel Swarovski and exhibitions of the crystals.It attracts visitors from the world over....
) sprawl across the outer part of the valley. At the head of the valley is the Wattentaler Lizum
Wattentaler Lizum
The Wattentaler Lizum is the name of the head of the Wattental valley which branches off the lower Inn valley near Wattens. Lizum means "alpine pasture at the head of the valley" in Tyrolese...
and its military training area of Lizum Walchen which is run by the Austrian Armed Forces. The Wattentaler Lizum lies entirely on the territory of Wattenberg.
The Wattental produces a high level of water power thanks to its large catchment area which is why internationally successful firms such as Swarovski
Swarovski
Swarovski is the brand name for a range of precisely-cut crystal and related luxury products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria...
, and Wattenspapier have been established in the village of Wattens
Wattens
Wattens is a market community in Austria which is the home of the Swarovski Kristallwelten, dedicated to the history surrounding the company, the man himself Daniel Swarovski and exhibitions of the crystals.It attracts visitors from the world over....
by the River Inn. The Wattental was and is therefore the reason behind the economic boom of the market village of Wattens which has made it one of the wealthiest municipalities in Austria.
The valley is a popular recreation area. The summits of the Rotwandspitze, Hirzer and Hahneburger have outstanding views and can be climbed from bases in the valley. In the upper part of the valley (Mölsberg
Molsberg
Molsberg is an Ortsgemeinde – a community belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde – in the Westerwaldkreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
) access is limited by the military training area.
On the first Sunday after the Assumption
Assumption of Mary
According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...
a service, the Mölsberg Mass (Mölsbergmesse) takes place at the summit cross
Summit cross
A summit cross is a cross on the summit of a mountain or hill that marks the top. Often there will be a "summit register" at the cross, either in a container or at least a weatherproof case....
of the Mölsberg in the middle of the Wattentaler Lizum
Wattentaler Lizum
The Wattentaler Lizum is the name of the head of the Wattental valley which branches off the lower Inn valley near Wattens. Lizum means "alpine pasture at the head of the valley" in Tyrolese...
, which is a memorial service to those from the valley who fell in the two world wars. On that day the training area is opened to private vehicles; normally it is out-of-bounds.
At the head of the valley is a small lake, the Mölssee.