Vienna Woods

Vienna Woods
Wienerwald
Vienna Woods near Breitenfurt
Highest point
Peak	Schöpfl
Elevation	893 m (2,930 ft)
Coordinates	48°05′14″N 015°54′43″E / 48.08722°N 15.91194°E / 48.08722; 15.91194
Dimensions
Length	45 km (28 mi)
Width	20–30 km (12–19 mi)
Geography
Country	Austria
States	Lower Austria and Vienna
Range coordinates	48°10′N 16°00′E / 48.17°N 16°E / 48.17; 16Coordinates: 48°10′N 16°00′E / 48.17°N 16°E / 48.17; 16
Parent range	Northern Limestone Alps

The Vienna Woods (German: Wienerwald) are forested highlands that form the northeastern foothills of the Northern Limestone Alps in the states of Lower Austria and Vienna. The 45 kilometres (28 mi) long and 20–30 kilometres (12–19 mi) wide range of hills is heavily wooded and a popular recreation area with the Viennese.

The Vienna Woods are bounded by the rivers Triesting, Gölsen, Traisen and Danube, and are on the border of the Mostviertel and the Industrieviertel, two of the four quarters of Lower Austria. Reaching into the city of Vienna itself, they are a favourite outdoor destination for the densely populated area around the city.

The highest elevation in the Vienna Woods is Schöpfl at 893 metres (2,930 ft) above sea level, the location of the Leopold Figl observatory. Important rivers in the Vienna Woods are the Wien, the Schwechat and the Triesting. The northeasternmost Leopoldsberg overlooking the Danube and the Vienna Basin forms the eastern end of the Alpine chain.

Even though the Vienna Woods are a protected landscape and important recreational area, they are threatened by urban sprawl. The Lainzer Tiergarten, an extensive park populated by wild boar and other woodland animals, as well as the Schwarzenbergpark, were created on the territory of the city of Vienna during the 19th century. The natural park Sandstein-Wienerwald is near Purkersdorf, some 20 km (12 mi) west of Vienna. There are also some caves, such as the Dreidärrischenhöhle ("cave of the three deaf men").