The Austrian Government Pavilion Is 60 Meters Long and 35 Meters

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Austrian Government Pavilion Is 60 Meters Long and 35 Meters I2] LOUI SI ANA PURCHASE EXP OSI TI ON THE AU S TRI AN GOVERNMENT PAVI LI ON a a DES CRI B ED B Y ORDER O' THE I M P . ROY AL M I NI STRY O' C OMM ERC E . INT RODU C T ION . The e'hibition in the Austrian G ov ern men t Pavilion is of an essentially representative character. As it was not possible to ’ e e e A e' the W o ' e arrang a g n ral ustrian hibition at rld s air, cov ring all e k e o the G o e e branch s of human s ill and inv nti n, v rnm nt “ e e o o n z e e' o w few e r solv d t rga i an hibiti n, hich in a promin nt fe atures the works of several branches o f public administration on the on e side and o f fine arts on the o ther would present to the visitor a faithful picture o f econo mical and intellectual life in Austria . The e e e E e w o e e e v n rabl old mpir , h s vigour has r main d intact o e e all o e o e o thr ugh so many c nturi s in c nt sts at h m and abr ad, A s ia S e c io s are to be fo d e ve h el e ss in th e B il d i s for M a fac e u tr n t n un , n rt , u ng nu tur , Libe ral Arts an d Agri cul ture . will in this manner be able to proclaim her e'istence at the universal revi ew of p e oples and nations on the other side of the ocean . At the e e the w e o His I R A o sam tim , august ish s f . and . p stolic Majesty Emp eror 'rancis 'oseph I . whose like ness adorns this little b o ok will thus be complie d with . PAVI LION AN D DIVISION 4‘ O ' ROOM S . The Austrian Government Pavilion is 60 meters long and 35 meters . the e wide and built in T form From trans pts a middle aisle , 24 meters broad , extends to the building line. On either side of the aisle exits lead to the the . I oggias and to lawns The pavilion is built of wood , and all the rooms have sky a lights. The style of architecture and decorations is modern with a classical toning. The exterior of the building is faced with a grayish yellow coloured gypsum shaded with gold , dark blue and light green. Two groups of fi gures above life size adorn the main porch of . the central building The Imperial coat of arms with a crown, surrounded n by a larg e wreath , is raised above the centre of the pavilio , and to the right and left two sphinxes crown the gables. The central building (garden—front) is finished off with two enormous s'uare pylons with festoons and masks and decorated with all the coats of arms of the Austrian crown lands. Four stela bearing gilded busts are symmetrically placed along the front of the fl owera b eds ' inwhich monumental fountains have been erected. As can b e seen from the annexed ground plan the interior of the pavilion is divided into fifteen rooms . 5 To the left and right of the entrance hall which is adorned with a marble bust of the Emperor are the official apartments one of which is d . meant as a library and rea ing room, and the other as a reception room Beyond the entrance hall is the Technical exhibition of the Ministry of Rail , w e ways , which like ise occupi s the room on the left hand side for its exhibition “ ” Sceneries and People of Austria . The hall to the right is devoted to the department of the Ministry of Commerce for the Building of W aterways. At the back part of the middle aisle a large hall is devoted to the exhibits of the professional Art schools and two smaller ones show interiors executed by the Schools for Arts and Crafts ’ in Vienna and Prague. The fi ne art exhibits of the Vienna Artists Association “ ” and of the Association called Hagen bun d are on the right of the transepts ' the pictures of the Bohemian and Polish artists on the opposite side . f Before brie ly describing the characteristics of each section , according to e the th order of rooms, a list must be given of the artists and artisans who have taken part in building and decoratin g the Austrian Government Pavilion. The plans of the whole building, the entrance hall, the two halls of W the Ministry of Railways, and the hall containing the exhibition of aterways L have been designed by the chief architect Oberbaurat udwig B a u m a n n, Joseph M e i s s n e r substituting him in the superintendence of the works. (Contractor : '. L e c o e u r). r L The lib ary has been designed by eopold B a u e r, architect, and the architect Joseph P l e é n i k has designed the reception room . The plastic on the outside of the building has been delivered by the sculptor Othmar S c h i m k 0 w i t z . The fi gurate frieze in the library is the work of the painter Josef E n g e l h a r d t. The painter Ferdinand A n dri has executed H T o m e c the frescos on the facade, and einrich those in the department for ’ water a w a s. s L aaser y The Emperor s bu t, which is made of marble , and which has been executed in the workshop of the Tyrol Marble and Porphyry Company ’ ' L is . t e (Fritz e l l e r) aas (Tyrol) , a copy of Prof S r a s s r s model. “ ' The relief Empress Elisab eth (Allegory) in the reception room is by W the late Rudolf e i g l, sculptor. sandor J ara y has b een entrusted with the Interior decorations and . v e b . G i n z k e f fittings The carpets ha e been deliv red y J y , Ma fersdorf, and ' the ornamental locksmithf work by Alexander N e hr. The mosaic and artistic glass work have been delivered by Max . K a n e r Freiherr v S p a u n and Johann pp , the fancy needlework by Carl K l G i a n i, the inlaid work (Intarsia) has been carried out by Michael e h , D u ch o s l a v a M a k i e n e c Josef , Fr nz . and the bronze works by Johann H a s t a ch K . L . , Carl r a t k y , J S c h u b e r t and A T a n ge 'E T E C HN IC AL EX HI B IT ION O ' T HE M INIST RY O ' RAILW AY S Austria is the home of European Alpine railways ' the oldest, the 1 84 — 4 Semmering railway , constructed 8 1 8 5 , lies on the South Railway main line from Vienna to Trieste and is the first mountain railway cori a ducted exclusively on the adhesive principle . Then followed the Brenner railway ( 1 8 64 the shortest railway communication between Central r b a — Germany via Tyrol to Italy (Verona) , and the A l erg railw y (1 8 8 0 1 88 4) which opened up the route via Tyrol and Vorarlberg to the west (Switzer ' land and France) . An extensive system of alpine railways in course of construction (the K W cheiner » Tauern, arawanken and o ) will establish a new connection be tween the Interior of Austria and tile port of Trieste. Four great panoramas in the Exhibition showing the above/ mentioned alpine railways bear witness ’ to Austria s prominence in this special field of railway technic. There are also plans of these lines , photographic views of buildings and of the tracks of the ' first three mention ed lines which are in full working order. The lines in course of construction are further illustrated by models of tunnels, scaffoldings, foundations of arche d bridges 'and also an electric boring machine. A view 8 of an arched bridge (with a span of 8 0 m) over the Isonzo (Littoral lands of Austria) with statical calculations and charts of the largest vaulted bridge s K ever built, and photographic views of the working in the arawanken and W ocheiner Tunnels. Among the other exhibits in this department may be mentioned a model of the groun d a w ork of the Austrian State Railways for t an d , express trains , pho os of the Imperial Court train of the newest loco assen er / carria es t e motives and p g g of the Austrian S ate Railways , as w ll as roun d r work plans for iron bridges, g , locomotives and passenger carriages of ’ “ the State Railways. The work published for the Emperor s 'ubilee History of ' the railways of the Au str O a Hungari an Monarchy together with a .number f the n rail vva s o other publications on statistics , pedagogy and , tech ics of y are exhibited .
Recommended publications
  • OEBB Arlberg
    Alpine World Ski Championships 2001 St. Anton Support and Services provided by the Austrian Railways ÖBB between 29 January and 10 February 2001 Mag. Karl Hartleitner, ÖBB Dipl.-Ing. Christof Weigl, ILF Powered by Alpine World Ski Championships 2001 St. Anton Support and Services provided by the ÖBB On 11 May 1996 St. Anton was chosen by FIS to host the World Championships 2001 - > negotiations started to revive a project from the 1970s for relocating the existing railway line from the centre of the village to the outskirts - > bringing an end to century-old division of the village into 2 parts by the railway - > to relieve the village from the noise impact of the railway traffic - > to give space to the development of a new village centre Finally, ÖBB contributed to the world ski championships by relocating the railway line to the south, opposite the village, with a new railway station clearing the area of the existing station and tracks through the village to give room to facilities required for the organisation of the championships (press centre, etc.) preparing a temporary halt east of St. Anton at a provisional car park area at the S16 Arlberg expressway and providing regular shuttle trains providing special daily railway passenger services for visitors from Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy Seite 2 Alpine World Ski Championships 2001 St Anton Mag. Karl Hartleitner, +43 (664) 6170965 1 Alpine World Ski Championships 2001 St. Anton Support and Services provided by the ÖBB AUSTRIA Germany St. Anton Switzerland Italy Seite 3 Alpine World Ski Championships 2001 St Anton Mag.
    [Show full text]
  • Top 10 Countries to See by Rail: Your Guide to Train Travel in Europe *
    TOP 10 COUNTRIES TO SEE BY RAIL: YOUR GUIDE TO TRAIN TRAVEL IN EUROPE Gjøvik Bergen Elverum Vainikkala Lahti Kouvola Gävle Loimaa Thurso Hønefossnefo Roa Rihimäki Kongsvinger Gardermoen Borlänge Hyvinkää Torsby Turku Wick Kerava Kotka Norway Oslo Ludvika 12h Salo Charlottenberg Espoo Northern Europe Drammen Helsinki Kongsberg Arvika Uppsala Maarianhamina Karjaa Narvik Riksgränsen Nordagutu Moss Kil Västeråsterås Hanko 2h Karlstad 18h Kiruna Kyle of Lochalsh StavangerStavanger Sarpsborg Kristinehamn ArlandArlandaa ( 0 100 200 300 Eskilstuna Mallaig Inverness SandefjordSandefjord 15h Tallinn Neslandsvatn Larvik Halden Örebro distances in kilometres Kornsjø Stockholm Lofoten Fort William LaLangesundngesund Laxå 0 50 100 150 200 Bodø Sira Strömstad Vänern Hallsberg Katrinholm distances in miles Kolari Aberdeen Arendal Fauske Egersund Kemijärvi Oban Gällivare KristiansandKristiansand Uddevalla Skövde Motala Estonia Rovaniemi Perth Nyköping TTrollhättanrollhättan Norrköping Mo i Rana Jokkmokk Dundee k Falköping Linköping a Mosjöen Glasgow r Haparanda e r Boden a g Skagen 17h S k Jönköpingng Tornio Kemi Hirtshals Luleå Londonderry Edinburgh Göteborg Hjørring Borås Västervik Frederikshavn avn Nässjö Russia Ballina Sligo 1h45min Northern Thisted K Hultsfred Arvidsjaur CCairnryanairnryan Oulu a Oskarshamn Westport Ireland Great Ålborg SwedeSwedenn Storuman t Varberg Grong a BelfBelfastast Stranraer t Berga i DeDenmarkn e n Kontiomäki Struer Skive Gotland Lycksele Carlisle g h Kajaani Latvia Steinkjer t Viborgorg Halmstad a Riga Republic of Holstebro
    [Show full text]
  • The Cradle of Alpine Skiing - Milestones in the History of Skiing on the Arlberg
    PRESS RELEASE The cradle of Alpine skiing - Milestones in the history of skiing on the Arlberg Lech Zürs am Arlberg, 29. October 2020. The cradle of Alpine skiing is located in the heart of a vast mountainous area between Tyrol and Vorarlberg. This region of Austria, one of the snowiest in the Alps, inspired daring young ski pioneers at the beginning of the 20th century. Their inventiveness and ingenuity both shaped and influenced the sport of alpine skiing. With 88 lifts and cable cars, 305 km of ski runs and 200 km of high-Alpine powder snow runs, Lech Zürs is today part of the largest and most extensive ski area in Austria. Moreover, "Ski Arlberg" is one of the world’s 5 largest ski regions. What separates this area from others is the unrivalled passion for skiing, which has shaped the development of Lech Zürs for more than 100 years. More than any other winter sports destination, the Arlberg defines ski culture and ingenuity. Where history is made... The Arlberg's legendary status is rooted in its storied history, geography, and extensive cable car infrastructure. No one better embodies this local pioneering spirit better than Hannes Schneider. Born in Stuben am Arlberg, he founded Austria's first ski school in St. Anton in 1921, thereby revolutionising skiing with his ‘stem christie’ technique. The first surface lift in Austria was built in Zürs in 1937 to suit the growing number of young amateur sports enthusiasts. In the same year, the Galzigbahn became the first cable car on the Arlberg designed specifically for winter tourism.
    [Show full text]
  • Implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action in Europe: Advances and Challenges 2005 - 2015 H F A
    H F A Implementing THE HYOGO FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION IN EUROPE: Advances and Challenges 2005 - 2015 H F A Implementing THE HYOGO FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION IN EUROPE: Advances and Challenges 2005 - 2015 Table of Contents 1. HFA Expected Outcomes..............................................................................................................9 2. Main Achievements of the HFA..................................................................................................10 2.1. Strategic Goal Area 1..........................................................................................................................................10 2.2. Strategic Goal Area 2..........................................................................................................................................15 2.3. Strategic Goal Area 3..........................................................................................................................................19 3. Drivers of Progress........................................................................................................................21 3.1. Multi-Hazard Approach......................................................................................................................................22 3.2. Gender Approach...............................................................................................................................................24 3.3. Capacities Approach...........................................................................................................................................25
    [Show full text]
  • Download the App! in the Crystal Clear Lechbach
    2020 | 2021 LECH ZÜRS MAGAZINE ZeitRaum Luxury is always A map of The sound a bit cheeky the clouds of a place Pure poetry – Lech’s A culinary trip Former ski pro Felix traditional costumes through Zug Neureuther opens up More Time. More Space. LECH ZÜRS Editorial Dear reader, From this issue onwards, our ZeitRaum Magazine will receive a fresh new look. From now on, the design, concept and editorial work will be in the hands of our partner friendship.is & Super BfG, a collective of creative people who have been closely associated with Lech Zürs for many years. Among other things, the new ZeitRaum is intended to reflect a combination between a sense of tradition and the spirit of innovation that has shaped and distinguished our region and the entire holiday destination of Vorarlberg for generations. The values and unique qualities of Lech Zürs will also be brought to the fore and new perspectives will be opened up. Be it through portraits, such as that of hotelier Herbert Jochum in this issue, who over nine decades of his life has accompanied the development of Zürs. Or be it through exciting reports like the one about climbing onto Roggalspitze. Or be it during a foray through the gourmet town of Zug, to name just a few. Exceptional people, an impressive natural environment, sports and leisure activities as well as culture and joie de vivre in all its facets - Lech Zürs has many faces. Our Magazine is just as diverse and full of charac- ter as the town itself, made to fulfil your desire for discovery, holidays and reading.
    [Show full text]
  • Risk Reduction Partnerships in Railway Transport Infrastructure in an Alpine Environment
    Originally published as: Otto, A., Kellermann, P., Thieken, A. H., Costa, M. M., Carmona, M., Bubeck, P. (2019): Risk reduction partnerships in railway transport infrastructure in an alpine environment. - International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 33, pp. 385—397. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.10.025 International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 33 (2019) 385–397 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijdrr Risk reduction partnerships in railway transport infrastructure in an alpine T environment ⁎ Antje Ottoa, , Patric Kellermanna,b, Annegret H. Thiekena, Maria Máñez Costac, Maria Carmonac, Philip Bubecka a Institute of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany b German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz-Centre Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany c Climate Service Center Germany, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Fischertwiete 1, 20095 Hamburg, Germany ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: The transport sector is crucial for the functioning of modern societies and their economic welfares. However, it is Risk governance vulnerable to natural hazards since damage and disturbances appear recurrently. Risk management of transport Risk reduction partnerships infrastructure is a complex task that usually involves various stakeholders from the public and private sector. Transport sector Related scientific knowledge, however, is limited so far. Therefore,
    [Show full text]
  • Trains & Railway Stations
    Price £2.00 (free to regular customers) April 30th 2021 List dated Spring 2021 T R A I N S L O C O M O T I V E S & R A I L W A Y S T A T I O N S PHILATELIC SUPPLIES (M.B.O'Neill) 359 Norton Way South Letchworth Garden City HERTS ENGLAND SG6 1SZ (Telephone 0044-(0)1462-684191 during office hours 9.30-3.-00pm UK time Mon.-Fri.) Web-site: www.philatelicsupplies.co.uk email: [email protected] TERMS OF BUSINESS: & Notes on these lists: (Please read before ordering). 1). All stamps are unmounted mint unless specified otherwise. Our prices in £ Sterling Pounds we aim to be HALF-CATALOGUE PRICE OR UNDER 2). Lists are updated about every month to include most recent stock movements and New Issues; they are therefore reasonably accurate stockwise 100% pricewise. This reduces the need for "credit notes" or refunds. Alternatives may be listed in case an item is out of stock However, these popular lists are still best used as soon as possible. Next listings will be printed in 3-4, 6, 9 & 12 months time, so please say when next we should send a list. 3). New Issues Services can be provided if you wish to keep your collection up to date on a Standing Order basis. Details & forms on request. Regret we do not run an on approval service. 4). All orders on our order forms are attended to by return of post. We will keep a photocopy it and return your annotated original.
    [Show full text]
  • Risk Reduction Partnerships in Railway Transport Infrastructure in an Alpine Environment
    Author’s Accepted Manuscript Risk reduction partnerships in railway transport infrastructure in an alpine environment Antje Otto, Patric Kellermann, Annegret H. Thieken, Maria Máñez Costa, Maria Carmona, Philip Bubeck www.elsevier.com/locate/ijdr PII: S2212-4209(18)30819-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.10.025 Reference: IJDRR1010 To appear in: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction Received date: 11 July 2018 Revised date: 30 October 2018 Accepted date: 30 October 2018 Cite this article as: Antje Otto, Patric Kellermann, Annegret H. Thieken, Maria Máñez Costa, Maria Carmona and Philip Bubeck, Risk reduction partnerships in railway transport infrastructure in an alpine environment, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.10.025 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting galley proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Risk reduction partnerships in railway transport infrastructure in an alpine environment Antje Ottoa*, Patric Kellermanna,b, Annegret H. Thiekena, Maria Máñez Costac, Maria Carmonac, Philip Bubecka aInstitute of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str.
    [Show full text]
  • Upgrading of Safety Measures in the Arlberg Railway Tunnel / Construction of Escape Routes with Cross-Passages to the Arlberg Road Tunnel
    UPGRADING OF SAFETY MEASURES IN THE ARLBERG RAILWAY TUNNEL / CONSTRUCTION OF ESCAPE ROUTES WITH CROSS-PASSAGES TO THE ARLBERG ROAD TUNNEL Hans Wehr, Austrian Federal Railways, Austria Christof Neumann, ILF Consulting Engineers, Austria ABSTRACT The Arlberg railway tunnel is a 10.6 km long tunnel, which was taken into operation in 1884. Almost parallel to this railway tunnel, the Arlberg road tunnel was built approx. 100 years later (at a distance of 400 m at a maximum), which was opened to traffic in 1978. This paper deals with the upgrading of the safety measures in the railway tunnel. The most important measure consists in the construction of cross – passages at intervals of 1,700 m at a maximum, serving as “safe areas” between the road and the railway tunnel. The co-operation strategy between the different traffic systems and tunnel operators as well as the organisational measures shall be presented. 1 PRESENT SITUATION The railway tunnel and the road tunnel, crossing the Arlberg mountain range in Western Austria, connect the Austrian provinces of Tyrol and Vorarlberg. The Arlberg twin-track railway tunnel, which has a length of 10.6 km and a cross-section of 41 m², was taken into operation in the year 1884. Its equipment presently comprises a train radio system, a telephone system, and work lights in individual sections. Adjacent to the Arlberg tunnel, two new railway tunnels were constructed in recent years. With these tunnels, the distance between the emergency exists and the safe areas was chosen to be 1.2 km at a maximum. The equipment meets the state-of-the-art technology standard stipulated for railway tunnels in Austria.
    [Show full text]
  • Pass.Region.Marke of the World
    Eine Ausstellung in den Arlbergorten Lech, St. Anton und Stuben Lechmuseum Huber-Hus, Dorf 26, 6764 Lech am Arlberg geöffnet/open: Dienstag, Donnerstag und Sonntag, jeweils von 15 bis 18 Uhr geschlossen/ cholosed: Mai/Juni Führungen sind nach Voranmeldung ganzjährig möglich. Tel. +43 5583 2213 240 [email protected] Museum St. Anton am Arlberg, Rudi-Matt-Weg 10, 6580 St. Anton am Arlberg Skirennläufer Emil Walch aus Stuben geöffnet/open: Täglich ab 12.00 Uhr während der Winter- und Sommersaison Ski racer Emil Tel.: +43 5446 22690 Walch from Stuben [email protected] The development of tourism and the spreading of the brand Arlberg are closely connected to skiing. Hannes Ehemaliges Schulzimmer Stuben am Arlberg Schneider and the skiing technique developed by him (dieses befindet sich bei der Kirche) – known as the “Arlberg technique” – contributed as Götzis much to this as the development of the “Arlberg School” geöffnet/open: Täglich von 10.00 bis 17.00 Uhr Frei, as a learning method. The brand Arlberg was spread (Tourismusbüro Stuben) +43 5582 777 399 significantly through the ski films of Dr Arnold Fanck; his [email protected] most famous film “Der weiße Rausch” was marketed in Austria as “Sonne über dem Arlberg” (Sun over Arlberg). Projektkoordination Many ski instructors have contributed to Arlberg’s fame, Gestaltung: Grafik-Design by teaching the skiing technique in many different parts Museumsverein Klostertal, Haus Nr. 60a, Pass.Region.Marke of the world. 6752 Wald am Arlberg +43 664 4911474 The development of the “Arlberg brand” will be [email protected] portrayed in three exhibitions in Lech, St Anton and Ausstellung / Exhibition Stuben from December 2014, starting from the Middle Museumsverein Ages and the early modern era up to the present.
    [Show full text]
  • Change from Agricultural to Touristic Use Effects on the Aesthetic Value
    Landscape and Urban Planning 187 (2019) 23–35 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Landscape and Urban Planning journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/landurbplan Research Paper Change from agricultural to touristic use: Effects on the aesthetic value of T landscapes over the last 150 years ⁎ Uta Schirpkea,b,1, , Andreas Altzingera,1, Georg Leitingerb, Erich Tassera a Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bozen/Bolzano, Italy b Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: The demand for cultural ecosystem services (CES) is increasing, and aesthetic values contribute substantially to Cultural ecosystem services attract visitors to mountain regions, enhancing the socio-economic well-being. While most studies focused on the Accessibility assessment of aesthetic values under current conditions, this study aimed to evaluate the historic development of Land use change aesthetic values from the perspective of today by analysing changes in the actual supply of this CES along roads Spatial modelling and paths in Sölden in the Ötztal valley (Austria) since the beginning of tourism. We first mapped roads and Social media paths for five time steps over the last 150 years to then estimate aesthetic values along these infrastructures, using a spatially explicit modelling approach. Furthermore, we compared spatial patterns of visitation pre- ferences derived from social media data with predicted aesthetic values. Our results indicate that an increased access to areas of high aesthetic values was related to general increases in the supply of aesthetic values until 1950. Although the accessibility to high-elevation areas continued to increase until 2017, aesthetic values generally decreased due to landscape changes induced by the shift from mainly agricultural to touristic use.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Introduction Siegfried Sauermoser, Florian Rudolf-Miklau and Stefan Margreth
    1 1 Introduction Siegfried Sauermoser, Florian Rudolf-Miklau and Stefan Margreth 1.1 Avalanche hazards 1.1.1 Overview and terminology Avalanches are defined as large masses of snow or ice that move rapidly down a mountainside or over a precipice. The term snow avalanche is more accurate to make the conceptual demarcation from other types of avalanches such as rock avalanches or mud flows. According to ONR 24 805, 3.34 [202], snow avalanches are characterized by rapid movement of snow masses that were triggered from the snow cover. Snow avalanches that cause human losses as well as severe property and environmental damage are classified as natural catastrophes. Throughout history, avalanches have had a major impact on the development of settlements in mountain regions (Figure 1.1). This influence is obvious from the location and structure of historical villages and traffic routes. Typical toponyms like Lähn or Lavin indicate old avalanche paths and are probably derived from the Latin terms labi (gliding down) and labes (falling) [7]. For many centuries, humans were not able to protect themselves effectively from avalanche hazards and resorted to simplistic solutions such as avoiding areas at risk. Despite the sparse population in Alpine regions, major avalanche disasters with numerous victims occurred repeatedly in history, as people were not able to assess the risk of these infrequent but catastrophic events. In the last century, increasing populations in the Alps (1870: 7.8 million; 2010: 13.6 million) in combination with growing demands for mobility and leisure activities in Alpine terrain have increased avalanche risk significantly.
    [Show full text]