Kamnik Alps

The Kamnik Alps (Slovene Kamniške Alpe, German Steiner Alpen or Sulzbacher Alpen) are a mountain range, part of the Southern Limestone Alps in north Slovenia and at the border of Austria. The name is derived from the town Kamnik (German Stein). Because the main river of the chain is the Savinja, the mountains are also called the Savinja Alps (Slovene Savinjske Alpe, German Sannthaler Alpen). The river Kamniška Bistrica has its spring in the Kamnik Alps. There is also a small glacier under Skuta which is the most eastern glacier in the Southern Alps.

Location

The Kamnik Alps are located at the border of Austria and Slovenia, between the rivers Sava and Savinja. Historically, they were the border between the duchies of Carinthia, Styria and Carniola. The tripoint was located on Uršlja gora (German Ursulaberg).

Peaks

The most important peaks are:
* Grintovec (2.558 m).
* Jezerska Kočna (2.540 m)
* Skuta (2.532 m)
* Ojstrica (2.350 m or 7.710 feet)
* Storžič (2.132 m)
* Raduha (2.062 m or 6.765 feet)

In total, 28 peaks surpass 2.000 m. The total area of the Slovene part is about 900 km². About three quarters of the surface are overgrown with forest while many of the higher peaks are bleak and rocky.

Borders and passes

To the east, the Kamnik Alps border the Celje Highland at the Dravinja River. The northwestern border to the Karavanke is the Vellach Valley.

The most important passes between the Carinthian and Upper Carniolian sides of the mountains are the Jezersko sedlo (Seebergsattel) and the Pavličevo sedlo (Paulitschsattel). On the Slovenian side, there is a skiing area, whereas tourism in the Vellach Valley focuses on health spas.

See also: Mountains of Slovenia