Berchtesgaden National Park is located in southern Germany, near the border with Austria. It is found in the areas of Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden and Schönau am Königsee in the Berchtesgadener Land region of Bavaria. The park was created in 1978 to protect the natural landscapes of the Berchtesgaden Alps. The park's main office is in the town of Berchtesgaden. In 1990, UNESCO named the park a Biosphere Reserve.
Location and geography
The park is located in a mountain region south of the town of Berchtesgaden. The park's eastern, southern, and western edges match the border between Germany and Austria. The area has no towns or villages and is not developed economically. In the center of the park is a large, long lake called Königssee, which flows into the Königsseer Ache, a river that joins the Salzach River. A smaller lake, Obersee, is above Königssee and flows into it. All water in the park eventually flows into the Salzach River, which is part of the Danube River system. To the west of the lake is the Watzmann mountain range, which is 2,713 meters (8,901 feet) high. Beyond the Watzmann, separated by the Wimbachtal valley, is the Hochkalter mountain range, which is 2,607 meters (8,553 feet) high. The Watzmann is the third-tallest mountain range in Germany. The Watzmann Glacier is located below the eastern side of the Watzmann, and the Blaueis is near the Hochkalter. These are two of five glaciers in Germany. The park also includes another lake called Hintersee.
History
The first nature conservation area in the Berchtesgaden Alps was established in what is now the southeastern part of the park in 1910. It covered 8,600 hectares (21,000 acres) and was modeled after U.S. National Parks. In 1919, the St. Bartolomew mountain hotel was built. In March 1921, the area was expanded to 20,400 hectares (50,000 acres). At that time, it included the Watzmann and Hochkalter mountains. During World War II, Hermann Göring, who held the position of State Minister of Forestry and Hunting, declared the area around Obersee a specially protected natural conservation zone. Six areas were also officially set aside to protect wildlife, though they were later used for hunting. The idea of creating a national park was first proposed in 1953. In the 1960s, a plan to build an aerial lift to the summit of Watzmann was suggested. This plan conflicted with the goal of creating a national park and was canceled in 1972 by the Free State of Bavaria, which also decided to establish a national park. The park officially opened on August 1, 1978, covering 208.08 square kilometers (80.34 square miles). In 1990, the national park was recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. In 2010, the park was expanded. By 2012, its total area reached 210 square kilometers (81 square miles).
Tourism
There are six information centers located in Berchtesgaden, Ramsau, and within the park. The park has many trails for visitors to explore. One of the park's cultural highlights is the pilgrimage Church of Saint Bartholomew, which is situated on Königssee.