Arlberg

[ahrl-berk]

Arlberg, pass, 5,946 ft (1,812 m) high, W Austria, on the boundary between Tyrol and Vorarlberg. The Arlberg region forms the water divide between rivers flowing to the North Sea and those flowing into the Black Sea. The Arlberg Tunnel (built 1880-84) is one of the world's longest (6.2 mi/9.9 km) railway tunnels. The Arlberg district is a noted winter sports center.

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Arlberg

Arlberg is a mountain range or massif between Vorarlberg and Tyrol in Austria.

The highest peak is the "Valluga" at . The name Arlberg derives from the tradition of the "Arlenburg," who are said to have once established themselves on the Tyrolean side of the Arlberg passes (1,793 m over sea level). Another story derives the name from the "Arlenbushes" that are very numerous here. There is no mountain with the name "Arlberg" proper. Popular places and famous ski resorts at the Arlberg are Lech, Zürs, Stuben, St. Christoph and St. Anton.

Pass roads and the Arlberg tunnel

The old pass route was known since the 14th century in the form of a narrow mule track when people began to trade salt in this region. However, because the Arlberg was very poorly developed, for centuries people avoided the route and took detours over the Fern Pass or Immenstadt for trading. The development of the textile industry and of the postal service, however, led to the road's being surfaced in 1824.

With the rise of motor traffic in the 20th century, however, this became inadequate. It was decided that a 14 km long Arlberg Road Tunnel would be built between Langen and St. Anton. On July 5, 1974 the work began and the passage was opened to traffic on December 1, 1978. The tunnel has a toll, however the old road over the pass is toll-free. A peculiarity of the tunnel is that it actually consists of two tunnels. On the Tyrolian side it is built over the "Rosanna Gorge" before the actual massif rises up in the direction of Vorarlberg over the tunnel.