Tyrolean Zugspitze Cable Car, Aerial tramway in Ehrwald, Austria
The Tyrolean Zugspitze Cable Car is an aerial tramway in Ehrwald, Austria, that runs 3,601 meters from the valley up to nearly 3,000 meters in elevation, bringing travelers directly to the peak. The cabins glide past steep rock walls and cross deep valleys as they approach the snow-capped summit.
A German firm built the system in 1926, making it the first cable car to reach the Zugspitze summit. Before that, mountaineers had to climb for several hours on foot to see the top.
The base sits in Ehrwald, a village that has served for centuries as a gateway to Germany's highest peak and now welcomes hikers and skiers year-round. Visitors often gather at nearby lodges to taste local dishes and watch the cars climb toward the snow-covered summit.
Each cabin holds up to 100 people and travels up in less than ten minutes, so even on busy days the wait remains manageable. Warm clothing is advisable because temperatures at the top drop sharply and wind often blows hard.
During the ride you pass through a zone where the climate changes noticeably in just a few minutes and sometimes clouds wrap around the cabin. Once at the top, you often see glaciers that are visible only from the summit.
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