The Saalach is a
river
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of ...
in
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
and
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
, and a left tributary of the
Salzach.
Course
The river begins, as the stream, in the Austrian state of
Tyrol
Tyrol (; historically the Tyrole; de-AT, Tirol ; it, Tirolo) is a historical region in the Alps - in Northern Italy and western Austria. The area was historically the core of the County of Tyrol, part of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Emp ...
in the
Kitzbühel Alps at the lake below the high
Gamshag
The Gamshag is a mountain in the Kitzbühel Alps in the Austrian state of Tyrol whose summit reaches a height of .
The Gamshag is located northwest of the ''Torsee'' lake, the source of the River Saalach. The prominent peak of the ''Tristkogel' ...
. From there it flows initially eastwards through the valley, through
Hinterglemm, then the ski resort of
Saalbach – at the latest from there it is known as the ''Saalach'' – until it bends north at
Maishofen
Maishofen is a municipality in the district of Zell am See (Pinzgau region), in the state of Salzburg in Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying ...
. It follows the broad valley to
Saalfelden, and meanders further on through the narrow valley between the
Leoganger and
Loferer Steinberge
The Lofer Mountains or Loferer MountainsHeuss, Theodor (1955). ''Preludes to life: early memoirs'', University of Michigan, p. 143. (german: Loferer Steinberge, lit. "Lofer Rock Mountains") are a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps in th ...
and the
Steinernes Meer to
Lofer
Lofer is a market town in the district of Zell am See in the Austrian state of Salzburg.
Geography
Lofer is located in the historic Pinzgau region, in the valley of the Saalach river between the Chiemgau Alps and Reiter Alpe in the north and eas ...
in north-western direction. There it enters a narrow gorge, famous for its white water rafting. Crossing the border to
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total l ...
(Germany) at Melleck (part of
Schneizlreuth
Schneizlreuth is a municipality in the district of Berchtesgadener Land in Bavaria in Germany.
History
In 1285 an estate in the area was called Schnaezenreut. This is the earliest the town's name can be traced.
The municipality of Schneizlr ...
) it flows along the northern slopes of the
Reiter Alpe
The Reiter Alpe (also ''Reiter Alm'' or ''Reither Steinberge'') is a mountain range of the Berchtesgaden Alps, named after the village Reit. it is located on the German–Austrian border in Bavaria, Germany, and Salzburg, Austria
Austria, ...
known for its climbing routes. A short distance before
Bad Reichenhall, a dam of a hydro-electrical power plant collects the waters of the . The power plant provides the energy for the railway line
Salzburg
Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Austro-Bavarian) is the fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872.
The town is on the site of the Roman settlement of ''Iuvavum''. Salzburg was founded ...
,
Freilassing,
Bad Reichenhall to
Berchtesgaden. Having passed Staufeneck, the Saalach leaves the mountains and enters the flat forests called Saalachau. From
Piding
Piding is an approved climatic spa in Bavaria near to the border of Austria close to Bad Reichenhall and Freilassing.
Geography
Geographical position
Piding is located in the middle of the ''Landkreis'' Berchtesgadener Land.
The municipal are ...
on north-eastwards, the
Austria–Germany border follows the river for some to Freilassing, at which it merges with the river
Salzach.
The name has its origin from , an old form of (salt), and which denotes a small river.
References
Rivers of Bavaria
Rivers of Tyrol (state)
International rivers of Europe
Rivers of Salzburg (state)
Austria–Germany border
Kitzbühel Alps
Salzburg Slate Alps
Chiemgau Alps
Rivers of Austria
Rivers of Germany
Border rivers
{{Germany-river-stub