Totes Gebirge

The Totes Gebirge, also known in English as the Dead Mountains, is a mountain range in Austria that forms part of the Northern Limestone Alps, lying between the Salzkammergut and the Ennstaler Alpen. The name Totes Gebirge is supposedly derived from the German words tot meaning "dead", referring to the apparent lack of vegetation, and Gebirge meaning "mountain range". The area is a large karst plateau with steep sides, and several mountain peaks above 2000 m. The highest point is the summit of Großer Priel, at 2,515 metres (8,251 ft).

There are some disputes concerning the name origin for "Dead Mountains." One position claims this comes from the range being the largest karst plateau of the Limestone Alps, featuring many lakes, caves, and sinkholes. Another argument for the naming of this range centers on how there are no salt deposits in the rock formations of this region which contributes to the lack of flora.

There are 612 mountains in the Totes Gebirge. The mountain range features multiple managed huts on the accessible outskirts with 3 huts positioned on the interior inside the high plateau. People can use these huts to traverse the mountain range along various trails and routes.