Steinernes Meer, Karst plateau in Dalaas, Austria.

Steinernes Meer is a karst plateau in Dalaas, Austria, formed by extensive limestone formations shaped through erosion into a rocky landscape with deep fissures and exposed rock surfaces. The terrain features wave-like structures and numerous depressions that give the plateau its distinctive appearance.

The limestone of the Steinernes Meer was deposited about 200 million years ago, in the Upper Rhaetian and Lower Jurassic (Lias), resting on watertight Kössen beds. Blocks of the plate later sank along vertical fissures, producing karst gullies and subsidence fields, while glacial polish rounded some humps. The plateau lies on the Rhine–Danube watershed, which is also the European continental divide.

The name "Steinernes Meer" refers to the undulating limestone surface that resembles frozen waves across the plateau. Communities in the region have long coexisted with this rocky terrain as part of their daily landscape.

The plateau is accessed through several hiking trails, with summer months providing optimal conditions for exploration. The terrain is uneven and exposed, so sturdy footwear and caution are essential when walking across the rocky surface.

The plateau sits directly on the Rhine-Danube watershed, which is also the European continental divide. Meltwater and rain vanish into the fissured limestone, so the surface has no streams or pools at all.