Landforms & Water

Rock Types

The main rock types that are found in Innsbruck are limestone, granite, conglomerate, and gneiss. (24) Innsbruck also has many places for visitors and residents to go rock climbing. These rocks are found in caves, down within the soil, as well as in the Alps themselves.

A piece of gneiss rock (25)

Tectonic plate map of Europe and the Austrian region (27)

Internal Processes & Plate Boundaries

Innsbruck is located within the Alpine collision zone. There is also the Balaton Fault and the extension over the eastern parts of Austria. That fault extends along the northern margin of the Mid-Hungarian Fault zone and it also aligns with the Periadriatic Fault. Which allows for the eastward lateral extrusion of the ALCAPA (Alpine-Carpathian-Pannonian) Mega Unit. (26)

Weathering & Erosion

With Innsbruck's moderately continental climate, the city experiences around 37.8 inches of precipitation a year. (3) During the winter months, the city receives around 39 inches of snowfall. The freezing and thawing of snow can lead to frost weathering. Frost weathering is a process in which the water seeps into the cracks of the rocks, freezes, and then expands, which causes the rocks to break apart. (3) During the summer, the warm temperatures can cause thermal weathering, which is a process where the rocks expand and break down.

Erosion map for the Alpine region. (28)

One of the many public drinking fountains located in the city (30)

Liquid Water

Innsbruck is located on the River Inn and has numerous public drinking fountains. The city's water supply comes from a total of 12 springs located deep in the Alps. (29) These tanks help supply fresh spring water to over 10,000 households in the city. This means that the tap water is completely fresh and safe to drink.

Glaciers

Innsbruck is home to multiple glaciers, including the Stubai Glacier. The altitudes range from 1,750 meters to 3,210 meters above sea level. The city of Innsbruck offers many activities for residents and tourists such as skiing and snowboarding. The Stubai Glacier is also the largest glacial skiing area in Austria.(32)

Stubai Glacier located in Innsbruck (31)

Glacial Erosion in Innsbruck (34)

Other Processes

Going off of the glaciers that we just discussed, one process that is common within the city of Innsbruck is Glacial Erosion. The major glaciers in Austria have played a significant role in shaping the landscape of the city. With climate change and global warming on the rise, the movement of these glaciers becomes more common and can lead to avalanches, and the carving of valleys and other landforms in the area. This is caused primarily by glacial erosion (33)

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