Sankt Johann im Pongau

Sankt Johann im Pongau
Exterior View of the Cathedral of St. Johann
Coat of arms
Sankt Johann im Pongau Location within Austria
Coordinates: 47°21′N 13°12′E / 47.350°N 13.200°E / 47.350; 13.200Coordinates: 47°21′N 13°12′E / 47.350°N 13.200°E / 47.350; 13.200
Country	Austria
State	Salzburg
District	Pongau
Government
• Mayor	Günther Mitterer (ÖVP)
Area
• Total	78 km2 (30 sq mi)
Elevation	565-618 m (−1,463 ft)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	10,945
• Density	140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	5600
Area code	06412
Vehicle registration	JO
Website	stjohannimpongau.at

St. Johann im Pongau (Saiga Håns or Sainig Håns in the local Pongau dialect, abbreviated St.Johann/Pg.) is a small city in the state of Salzburg in Austria. It is the administrative centre of the St. Johann im Pongau District.

The city is located in the Salzach Valley of the Eastern Alps, between the Salzburg Slate Alps in the north, the Radstadt Tauern (part of the Niedere Tauern range) in the southeast and the Ankogel Group (Hohe Tauern) in the southwest.

The city lies in the centre of the Salzburg Pongau region. The municipal area comprises the cadastral communities of Ginau, Hallmoos, Maschl, Einöden, Plankenau, Reinbach, Rettenstein, St. Johann, and Urreiting.

Due to its picturesque setting, the area largely depends on tourism, Alpine skiing in winter and hiking in the summer months. A dramatic gorge called Liechtensteinklamm lies south of the city. This gorge is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) long and can be explored via walkways first built by Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein in 1875.

The Salzach Valley, an ancient copper mining area, had been settled at least since the Bronze Age. The settlement was first mentioned as sanctum Johannem in villa in a 1074 deed, named after John the Baptist. It was for centuries a possession held by the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg.