Ötztal#

Oetz Valley, Tirol, southern longest (65 km) side valley of the Inntal valley, important tourist area (summer and winter), the Oetztaler Ache river runs through it, and south-west of the Oetztal train station (704 m) flows into the river Inn. Covering a large area, it separates the Stubai Alps in the northeast from the Oetztal Alps in the southwest of the Oetz valley; whose main crest forms the border to Italy (South Tirol). A characteristic feature of the Oetz valley are its 5 valley steps and basins. At Zwieselstein (alt. 1,470 m) the Oetz Valley is formed (1st step) from the eastern Gurgler Valley and the western Venter Valley (headwater valleys). On the other steps lie, respectively, the main villages Soelden (alt. 1,368 m, to the west Hochsoelden at 2,083 m), Laengenfeld (centre of the Oetz valley, alt. 1,180 m), Umhausen (alt. 1,031 m), Oetz and Sautens (alt. 812 m). The basins of Laengenfeld and Umhausen are separated by the narrow pass of Maurach (alt.1105 m). In the southwest of Oetz lies the small Piburg Lake. The opening of the Oetz valley is characterised by terrain formed by the Tschirgant mountain slide (Toma landscape); former agricultural areas (flax, barley) are now only used as grassland, livestock keeping (particularly brown cattle and sheep) is the dominant form of farming. Economic sectors: building company (building construction and civil engineering) and wood processing. The Oetztaler Ache river is joined in the east by the Windache river, the Fischbach stream, the Horlachbach stream with the Stuiben waterfall (southeast of Umhausen) and the Nederbach stream (the valley runs through Kuehtai into Sellrain), in the west by the Pollesbach, Leiersbach and Tumpenbach streams. (Waterfalls west of Oetz valley).