Höhlenmuseum Schönbergalm

Useful Information

Location:	Obertraun, Salzkammergut. A1 (E55) exit 234 Gmunden, follow B145 through Gmunden, Bad Ischgl, and Bad Goisern. Behind Bad Goisern turn right onto 166 to Gosaumühle, turn left along Hallstatt lake through Hallstadt to Obertraun. Take Dachstein Cable Car. (47.534845, 13.715827)
Open:	During the operating times of the cable car. [2021]
Fee:	free with any cave ticket. [2014]
Classification:	Cave and Karst Museum Karst Trail
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	A=1,350 m.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Höhlenmuseum, Schönbergalm, 4831 Obertraun, Tel: 050140, Fax: +49-50140-12303. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

photography — Höhlenmuseum Schönbergalm, Dachstein, Austria.

As an addition and explanation to the three show caves of the Dachstein and the karst trail is this cave museum, located at the Schönbergalm at the first station of the Dachstein Cable Car.

The exhibition covers many aspects of caves, the rocks, the cave biology, and of course cave exploration. All those topics have a bias on alpine caving and alpine caves. One of the biggest exhibits is a huge 3d modell of the mountain side and the 60 km of passages of the Mammuthöhle. The exhibition is completed by a slide show, showng many parts o the caves which are only accessible to cavers.

The building of the museum was constructed as a block house, completely made of logs, similar to a typical wood cutters hut of the area. This was intended to make it blend with the area.

From the museum to the Mammuthöhle the trail is 550 m long. This distance was used for an extraordinary exhibition. 550 m are compared to the last 550 Million years of Earth's history. The trail starts at the museum 550 Ma ago, every 50 Ma is a milestone, geologic epchs are marked by steps on the trail. But the most dramatic part of the trail is at the end, when man appears. The time from the birth of Christ until today are only the last 2mm of the trail.

Another trail leading to the Rieseneishöhle explains the flora and fauna of the alps, the 500 m long trail shows the various climate zones of the mountains which are comparable with the climate zones of the Earth from south to north. The trail starts with the water-meadow landscape of the valley floor, and ends with the bare landscape of the high mountains close to the glaciers.