Ahornboden
At the end of the Rißbach valley, between 1080 and 1300m just before the village of Eng in the municipal area of Vomp lies the "Große Ahornboden" ("large maple grove"). Humans settled here 4500 BC. In 1927, the maple trees were declared a natural monument, as one of the oldest protected areas of natural monuments in Tyrol.[3]
During the Ice Age a classic U-shaped valley was formed, and the valley bottom of the Enger Grundbach was filled with 80 to 120 meters of gravel, which is continuing to accumulate in large quantities due to erosion. the sycamore maple was able to make optimum use of these conditions due to its special root system. The removal of conifers, bushes, etc., was probably due to alpine farming since the 12th century. Thus, unique maple groves are a product of special natural conditions and traditional human use.[4]
In December 1988, the Große Ahornboden was designated as Protected Landscape Area, which includes 267,28 Hectare[5] It is also part of the Karwendel Nature Park. The area is overgrown with numerous 300 to 600 year old and very gnarled maple trees In 1966, 2409 trees were counted.[6]
The Großer Ahornboden is not only unique because of its large number of sycamores, but the old sycamores themselves are habitats for a large number of mosses, lichens and ferns. In 2019, 215 moss and lichen species could be detected at the Großer Ahornboden, amongst them the protected moss Tayloria rudolphiana. From a zoological point of view, the old trees are very attractive for cave breeders such as woodpeckers and bats.[4]
The "Kleine Ahornboden" is located at the southern end of the Johannestal at around 1400 metres altitude directly below the steeply sloping north faces of the Hinterautal-Vomper Chain. It can be reached on foot in about 2.5 hours from Hinterriß and in about 2 hours from Karwendelhaus.
