Green alpine meadows, dense forests, rugged cliffs, and in between, crystal-clear water making its way from the mountains down into the valley: In summer, the Dachstein region impressively demonstrates just how strongly water shapes a landscape. Recent vacation photos from our colleague Fabian Schlöglhofer, who is responsible for production at Green Legacy, show a landscape where water and nature seem ever-present in many places.
On the road among mountains, forests, and water
Those who explore the Dachstein region by bike get to experience the landscape in a particularly intimate way. Trails wind through forests and across alpine pastures, passing springs, streams, and small waterways depending on the route. Time and again, the view opens up to the impressive Dachstein massif.
The contrast is particularly striking when compared to the Weinviertel. There, drought and high temperatures have visibly altered the landscape during the summer. In many parts of the Dachstein region, on the other hand, lush greenery, forests, and waterways define the landscape.
It is a landscape where water seems to be a given.
Water Shapes the Landscape
This highlights the importance of water for a functioning ecosystem. It nourishes plants, shapes the vegetation, and influences how well soils and plants can withstand prolonged heat waves.
The clear mountain streams along his route made this significance immediately apparent. They shape the landscape, sustain habitats, and offer welcome refreshment on hot summer days. Those of us at Green Legacy who deal with water, soil, and plant care on a daily basis probably notice such details even more keenly—even while on vacation. Where does the water flow? Where does it remain in the landscape? And how long is it actually available to plants?
However, the Dachstein Massif demonstrates that a landscape that appears to be rich in water does not automatically mean that water is available on the surface everywhere and at all times. The region is heavily influenced by karst: A large portion of the precipitation seeps into the ground and, in many places, only resurfaces further downstream as a spring.
It is precisely in a mountainous landscape that appears, at first glance, to be rich in water that the value of water becomes apparent. After all, what matters is not only whether water is available, but also how well it is stored and made available to plants over the long term.
It’s not just how much rain falls that matters
This is exactly where our work at Green Legacy comes in. We focus on solutions designed to keep water available in the soil and in the immediate root zone for longer. After all, using water efficiently doesn’t just mean using less of it. It’s also important to keep the available water as close as possible to where plants can absorb it.
Our impressions of the Dachstein region remind us how much we take water for granted as long as it’s there—and how valuable this resource is to every landscape. And incidentally, Fabian’s vacation photos reveal something else: Sometimes nature is the best place to recharge.
