Rax, Mountain range between Styria and Lower Austria, Austria.
Rax is a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps stretching roughly 32 kilometers between Styria and Lower Austria. It reaches 2,007 meters at its highest peak, Heukuppe, and features numerous hiking trails accessible from several mountain huts scattered across the terrain.
The Raxseilbahn, built in 1926, became Austria's first cable car and transformed access to the mountain. This link between Hirschwang and the plateau allowed visitors to reach higher elevations without strenuous climbing.
The range has long served as a favorite destination for residents of Vienna and Lower Austria seeking outdoor recreation close to home. The trails and mountain huts here shape how local people spend their leisure time throughout the year.
Mountain huts at various elevations, such as Ottohaus and Habsburg Haus, provide lodging and meals for hikers along the routes. The trails are accessible year-round, though seasonal conditions require appropriate preparation and gear.
The range feeds Vienna's drinking water supply, making it a hidden natural resource essential to the capital. This concealed role connects the mountain to the daily lives of millions in the city below.
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