Zugspitze

Zugspitze
Zugspitze from Ehrwald, Tyrol, Austria
Highest point
Elevation	2,962 m (9,718 ft)
Prominence	1,746 m (5,728 ft)  ↓ Fern Pass → Parseierspitze
Isolation	25.8 km → Zwölferkogel
Parent peak	Finsteraarhorn / Mont Blanc
Listing	Country high point (Germany) Ultra
Coordinates	47°25′16″N 10°59′07″E / 47.42111°N 10.98528°E / 47.42111; 10.98528Coordinates: 47°25′16″N 10°59′07″E / 47.42111°N 10.98528°E / 47.42111; 10.98528
Geography
Zugspitze Location in Germany on the border with Austria
Location	Tyrol, Austria Bavaria, Germany
Parent range	Wettersteingebirge, Eastern Alps
Geology
Age of rock	Triassic
Mountain type	Wetterstein limestone
Climbing
First ascent	27 August 1820 by Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl and survey assistant, Maier
Easiest route	Reintal Route

The Zugspitze, (German pronunciation: [tsukʃpɪtsə]) at 2,962 m (9,718 ft) above sea level, is the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains as well as the highest mountain in Germany. It lies south of the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the border between Germany and Austria runs over its western summit. South of the mountain is the Zugspitzplatt, a high karst plateau with numerous caves. On the flanks of the Zugspitze are three glaciers, including the two largest in Germany: the Northern Schneeferner with an area of 30.7 hectares and the Höllentalferner with an area of 24.7 hectares. The third is the Southern Schneeferner which covers 8.4 hectares.

The Zugspitze was first climbed on 27 August 1820 by Josef Naus, his survey assistant, Maier, and mountain guide, Johann Georg Tauschl. Today there are three normal routes to the summit: one from the Höllental valley to the northeast; another out of the Reintal valley to the southeast; and the third from the west over the Austrian Cirque (Österreichische Schneekar). One of the best known ridge routes in the Eastern Alps runs along the knife-edged Jubilee Ridge (Jubiläumsgrat) to the summit, linking the Zugspitze, the Hochblassen and the Alpspitze. For mountaineers there is plenty of nearby accommodation. On the western summit of the Zugspitze itself is the Münchner Haus and on the western slopes is the Wiener-Neustädter Hut.