!!!Moore

Moors: The  High Moors, which prevail in Austria, are mostly found in 
high-altitude valleys, in hilly regions and in the mountains, where 
they are often densely covered with dwarf pine. They are usually found 
in groups, e.g. in the regions of the Waldviertel (Lower Austria) and 
Muehlviertel (Upper Austria) as well as Flachgau (Salzburg, the 
province where most moors are situated). Among the biggest moors are 
the Rhine Moors in Vorarlberg (2,078 hectares) and the 
Bleistaetter Moor in Carinthia (564 hectares, peat depth 
11 m). 94 % of the total area covered by moors lies below an 
altitude of 1,000 m. Large sections of the Irdning Moor and 
Woerschach Moor in Styria have been cultivated, as well as parts of 
the  Ibmer Moos in Upper Austria, the Leopoldskron Moor in Salzburg, 
the Tainach Moor and Ossiach Moor in Carinthia and the Lustenau Moor 
in Vorarlberg. Moors used for mud baths have become increasingly 
important in Austria. Moors have been scientifically studied by 
state-owned institutions in Austria since the 19%%sup th/%  century, 
which initially concentrated on the economic aspect, whereas today the 
focus lies on environmental protection. At present (1995) 90 % of 
Austrian moors are landscape conservation areas or nature 
preserves, although only about 19 % of the area is owned by the 
state. Moors are endangered by drainage, grazing and changes in land 
use; although they are no longer significant for fuel production, peat 
is still being used as a soil improver. Moor Museums have been 
established in Bad Wimsbach-Neydharting (Upper Austria, with Moor 
research institute) and in Kleinpertholz near Heidenreichstein (Lower 
Austria).

!Literature
Federal Ministry of Health and Environmental Affairs 
(ed.), Handbuch der natuerlichen Heilmittel Oesterreichs, 1985; 
G. M. Steiner, Oesterr. Moorschutzkatalog, 1995.


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