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the Degree Confluence Project
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Austria

6.9 km (4.3 miles) ENE of Zirknitz, Kärnten, Austria
Approx. altitude: 2728 m (8950 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 47°S 167°W

Accuracy: 314 m (343 yd)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: No way to get closer at this point #3: Georg looking for some shelter #4: Myself very wet #5: Looking back to the confluence area (in clouds) #6: GPS

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  47°N 13°E (visit #2) (incomplete) 

#1: Looking down into nothing

(visited by Michael Muehlberger and Georg Fahringer)

09-Jun-2001 -- Despite the not so optimistic weather forecast we started driving at 08:00 and arrived at the little parking place to start from at 11:00. Although the gate to the road ending at the storage lake near the confluence was opened we decided to park the car at the parking place an start from there. (You never know if the gate will still be open when you come back.) Looking at the map we decided to take the walking way to the "Kegelsee" instead of the road. The way was in the beginning very steep but we gained height quickly and arrived at the Kegelsee an hour later. Then at 12:00 the rain started. First it was a little unmotivated but strong enough to force us to stop and put on our rain gear. From the "Kegelsee" we followed the road which was several times blocked by deep snow up to the storage lake. The visibility was good so we left the road and tried to reach our goal by climbing up left of the confluence to avoid the steep snowfields. Our plan was to climb up the same altitude like the confluence in not so steep terrain and cross the snowfield horizontaly to the confluence. But the weather god was not so pleased. Soon the visibility got very poor and heavy wind and rain started. Sometimes the visibility dropped under 10 meters and we had to guess if it would be better to climb over or under the rocks that blocked our way. Suddenly we heard a avalange roaring down at gread distance which remainded us that winter is not over at all in this area. At the distance of aproximately 314 meters our way was blocked by a 10 meter high wall an because of the bad visibility we could not find a way to get around the obstacle. It was 14:30, it started to snow, we where soaking wet, it got realy cold and we saw no way to get closer. So we took some pictures an started our way back. Unfortunately the camera got wet and some of the pictures are a little unfocused because of waterdrops on the lens. We reached home at 19:00 very tired and happy to take a hot shower. Maybe the next visitor will reach the confluence.


 All pictures
#1: Looking down into nothing
#2: No way to get closer at this point
#3: Georg looking for some shelter
#4: Myself very wet
#5: Looking back to the confluence area (in clouds)
#6: GPS
ALL: All pictures on one page
  Notes
This is the third highest Confluence in Europe (extending unto the Ural Mountains, von Strahlenberg definition) (Source: SRTM 90m digital elevation data).