Tauernbach

The Tauernbach is a mountain stream in East Tyrol that begins high in the Venediger Group. It tumbles down from 2 270 m at the foot of the Felber Tauern, cutting through steep granite gorges before joining the larger Gschlössbach. After their confluence the combined waters keep the name Tauernbach and soon drop another 1 340 m in just 18 km to reach the Isel at Matrei. The upper valley is lined with alpine pastures and dwarf shrub heaths, while the lower stretches open into farmland. The stream is important for wildlife, especially the rare German tamarisk that grows along its banks. Conservationists have pressed for years to protect the whole river under Natura 2000, and in 2017 the European Union asked Austria to include glacier-fed rivers such as the Tauernbach. The gorge at Prossegg and the steep section above the Wohlgemutalm still hold natural riverbeds, offering habitats for brown trout, grayling and even rainbow trout stocked in quieter pools. Walkers follow the Tauernbach trail from the Matreier Tauernhaus up to the Moaralm, where the valley widens into gentle meadows. Below Prossegg the river is bordered by fields and orchards until it passes through the village of Matrei and meets the Isel. The route offers views of the Venediger peaks and the wide farming basin, while the lower gorge shows how water and stone have carved a narrow passage through the mountains.