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Visitor centres and interpretive sights in Mittersill area , Hohe Tauern NP, Austria
Marjeta Keršič – Svetel [email protected]
The National Park Hohe Tauern was Austria’s first national park founded in 1981. With an area of 1,836 km² it represents the largest protected area in the Alps. It is located in the mountainous bordering region of the Austrian federal states (Bundesländer) of Carinthia, Salzburg and Tyrol. The park ranges from 1,000 meters elevation in the valleys up to the highest mountain top of Austria, the “Großglockner” at 3,798 meters above sea level, covering a diverse natural and cultural landscape in the Eastern Alps.
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The designation of the National Park Hohe Tauern was one of the largest regional and spatial planning efforts in Austrian history and is sometimes referred to as a role model of alpine nature conservation due to the fact that the park is mainly based on private land with about 1,100 owners (only 16% of the area is publicly owned, another 21% is owned by the Austrian Alpine Club [Österreichischer Alpenverein]). The planning and management of the park includes a variety of stakeholders organised in different participatory bodies and requires tailor-made solutions for land use aspects to ensure the regional implementation of the park’s objectives.
National Park Communities The following municipalities have shares in the Salzburg part of the National Park Hohe Tauern: • Muhr • Uttendorf – • Krimml Weißsee • Mittersill • Kaprun • Fusch an der • Wald-Königsleiten Glocknerstraße • Neukirchen am Großvenediger • Rauris • Bramberg am • Hüttschlag Wildkogel • Bad Gastein • Hollersbach
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Core zone: IUCN category II which means the free and natural development of at least 75% of the area and the preservation of the traditional cultivated landscape of at the most 25% of the area (with the possibility of a free and natural development). Buffer zone: IUCN category V, which means man and nature working together for the sustainable management INSIDE NP of a cultivated landscape formed by its alpine farmers and as close to nature as possible. It also means preserving the singular bio-diversity and the characteristic landscape. Sustainably protecting the water cosystems characteristic of the Hohe Tauern (e.g. glacial streams, lakes).
National Park region: Development towards an ecologically model landscape and towards the sustainable safeguarding of the basic standard of living and economic foundation of the people living here as well as strengthening their quality of life and cultural identity.
Information facilities according to HTNP Plan 2003: Core zone: National Park and regional information at alpine huts maintaining and improving the information facilities Buffer zone: creating, maintaining and improving the information on natural and culturally historical characteristic features based on an overall concept National Park region: creating, maintaining and improving the information on natural and culturally historical characteristic features based on an overall concept as well as alpine information and tips about transport services vailable for access and accommodation facilities in the National Park. Furthermore, there should be information on the touristic infrastructure through tourism organisations. Creating and maintaining or improving the National Park information points and centres.
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The regional national park funds are regulated in the respective regional national park laws . The funds are the legal vehicle for all management measures (i.e. non- sovereign tasks) of the park, and are set up as a special purpose fund. The funds are headed by the regional park director in Carinthia, by the federal government representatives in Salzburg, and by the head of the board of trustees in Tyrol. The funds’ tasks include the implementation of measures according to park aims (e.g. build and maintain park infrastructure, carry out visitor programs, and regional and tourism development projects), granting park fund subsidies, and supporting conservation measures financially (purchase, rent or contractual nature conservation measures for selected areas, compensation payments for land owners). Furthermore, the funds document and provide scientific advise to park projects. In Salzburg, the fund is also responsible for the elaboration of development concepts of the national park region.
•Association of Friends of the Hohe Tauern National Park [Verein der Freunde], established 2009: promotional activities sponsorship fundraising •Partnership agreement with the Austrian Alpine Club [Österreichischer Alpenverein, OeAV] •Partnership agreement with the Großglockner High Alpine Route company [Großglockner Hochalpenstraße, GROHAG]
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The report (2009) was the first outcome of a research program of Vestlandsforsking (Sogndal, Norway) in cooperation with Klagenfurt University (Austria) entitled “Policy for harmonizing national park management and local business development”.
Population: 5500
•Mittersill castle, interesting history •Blizzard Ski factory, mining •Winter tourism (connection to Kitzbühl) •Summer tourism (golf, riding, National Park
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Hohe Tauern National Park Center Gerlos Bundesstraße 18 5730 Mittersill
Opened on July 28th 2007 115 000 visitors in the first year
Costs of building and equipemebn: 9,6 milion €
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Interpretive centre must me economically sustainable!
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• Eagles eye view • Marmots & Co • Treasure Chamber NATIONAL PARK • Mountain Forest GAllery WORLDS • High Pasture Life • World of water • Avalanche-Dome • Glacier World In 8 different exhibition rooms, visitors have an opportunity to experience and comprehend the extraordinary diversity of natural resources in the Hohe Tauern National Park. The Hohe Tauern National Park Center is constructed and operated by the Hohe Tauern National Park Center Construction & Management LLC, whose shareholders include the Salzburg National Park Funds and the Salzburg State Board of Tourism, as well as regional tourism associations.
Visitors can experience the most NATIONAL PARK significant natural environments of WORLDS the park in a different, revealing way All themes are closely connected with real experiences in near vicinity Invitation to other interpretive centres and paths, to new T H E M E S experiences Respect, values, understanding Learning Fun!
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Domenig & Wallner ZT GmbH - architects The building itself is filled with messages...
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No information can replace a real visit – but you are invited to experience the worlds of our national park!
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Mooooh! It sounds, smells, feels like “hohe alm”! Management problem: people do not wat to leave...
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Mittersill – National Park Worlds
Hollersbach – Krimml – waterfalls Rauris – gold Herbal garden and Wonderfull washing and mining World of Water Kneipp Wellness Geotourism Healing power of Botany Birds of prey centre water and woods
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Rauris: Nationalparkhaus Könige der Lüfte Goldwaschplatz Bodenhaus, Heimalm, Sportalm
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Hollersbach: najstarejša tirolska hiša, zeliščni vrt in botanične delavnice
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Krimml: 15o let turizma zaradi čudovitega slapišča – in VSE o vodi!
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National parks a s a brand of high quality nature experiences Sustainable tourism – in all aspects! High values in local identity, history, tradition – and nature
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