Hochobir


Hochobir, with its peak at 2,139 m, is the highest mountain in the Obir massif, located in the northern Karawanks range. Other notable peaks are Kuhberg, Kleinobir, Vielspitz, and Altberg. In the eastern part of the massif, there are the Obir dripstone caves, developed into show caves, and in the northern part, the Wildenstein Waterfall. From 1891 until its destruction in World War II, the summit housed the Hannwarte meteorological station. The 500 kg summit cross on Hochobir is made of metal, standing 7 meters high and 3 meters wide. It was erected in 1972.

Etymology

The name Obir is recorded as Obier in 1637 and can be traced back to the Slovenian word ober – giant. The term "Hochobir" was transferred from the nearby mining area to the Obir summit, and the Slovenian name Ojstrc means peak.
In the Carinthian capital Klagenfurt, Obirstraße is named after the massif. There are also Obirstraße in Völkermarkt and Eberndorf.

Tourism

The Hochobir summit is accessible via an easy two-hour hike from the Eisenkappler Hut. The hut is reachable by an 8 kilometer toll road. The toll road can be accessed from the Ebriach valley branching off from Bad Eisenkappel or from the Schaidasattel. From the summit, there is a panoramic view. To the west, there are the Hohe Tauern, to the north the Saualpe, to the east the Petzen. To the south, the view is limited by the Karawanks and Steiner Alps.

Regional flora

At Hochobir, among other things, the Austrian gymnadenia and Kerner's Alpine poppy, can be found, which differ from the usual representatives in the southern limestone Alps.

Literature