Affentalalm, Mountain pasture in Sankt Jakob in Defereggen, Austria
Affentalalm is a mountain pasture near Sankt Jakob in Defereggen, Austria, sitting at around 7,200 feet (2,200 meters) between several peaks. The meadow opens up in the middle of steep slopes, where livestock grazes during the warmer months of the year.
The name of this pasture comes from old hunting language used in the region, where young marmots were called 'Affen' by local hunters. This word stuck to the land and is now the only trace of how people once named the animals they encountered here.
Herders who work this pasture follow practices passed down over generations in the Defereggen valley. The movement of livestock across the high meadows shapes how the land looks through the summer months.
The area is reached by rural roads through the Klammljoch pass, which links the valley to the neighboring region. Visitors should be ready for open mountain conditions and plan enough time to walk uphill at altitude.
This pasture sits along the outer edge of Hohe Tauern National Park, one of the largest protected areas in the Alps. Because of this, marmots and other mountain animals are often seen here going about their day with little concern for passing walkers.
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