Malta-Hochalm-Strasse and Kölnbrein Dam, Austria

1. Malta-Hochalm-Strasse

Malta-Hochalm-Strasse begins to climb in ever more convincing serpentines and will gain no less than 1000 meters of altitude in only 14 km. The views left and right are fascinating. Numerous waterfalls, most of them high-flowing as a result of melting glacier snow, for it is June, throw their waters in heights of tens of meters, some perhaps over 100 meters. The Austrian Alps in this region are over 3000 meters high and have steep slopes, real slope breaks, which favor the show presented by the waterfalls. You don't get to admire one waterfall as a fellow hiker draws your attention to the next one and phones and video cameras try to catch something of the van's silent van as it silently glides along the impeccable road, constantly changing direction as the road curves. A few tunnels delight the children in us.

2. Kölnbrein Dam (Kölnbreinsperre)

We've reached the stopping point at Kölnbrein Damwhere Berghotel Malta is located. Here there is a large organized parking and a modern building, with a restaurant on the ground floor and first floor with an outdoor terrace on a footbridge over which rises a cylindrical building with 4 floors, which host a very interesting museum that explains in pictures and plans in an attractive look how the engineering marvel was built here: Kölnbrein Dam (Kölnbreinsperre).

But outside, around us, the kingdom of the Alps. And ... 2 dams, not one! The upper dam is the one at parking lot level, which we walk a few steps towards.

On the way, a "huge metal wheel" attracts our attention. It is in fact a 26 MW (!), 1800 m (!) drop height, 650 km/h (!) water spreading speed, 5 t mass, which was in operation between 1957 and 1996 for 60,000 hours and produced 1.2 billion kWh (!).

You are allowed to walk freely on the arched canopy of the upper dam. The point of maximum attraction is the construction developed outside the dam on several metal grid-like staircases descending on a platform with a transparent floor situated above the hatch - Airwalk.

Below the upper dam and the large dam at the same time, another reservoir is flowing, dammed by the lower dam.

Finally we visited the museum from which I am posting some pictures.

3. Hochalmspitz

The most striking peak in this place is 3360 meters high and is called Hochalmspitz (the last of the 3 pictures below), hence probably the name of the alpine road we climbed.

For thrill-seekers in the climbing and via ferrata category, there are numerous approved trails. Of course, there are also hiking options to choose from, and for most of these activities you can benefit from a qualified guide or instructor.