Bärenschützklamm gorge in Austria dries up due to drought
The Bärenschützklamm, Austria’s most famous gorge, has seen its waterfalls and creeks dry up due to extreme weather conditions. By the end of July 2026, the water flow through the gorge had ceased entirely because of a lack of precipitation.
Gerhard Jantscher, chairman of the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV) Mixnitz section, attributed the drying of the landscape to global warming, summer heatwaves, drought, and a lack of snow and rain in the Alps. The Mixnitz Stream, which feeds the gorge via the Sommeralm and Teichalm regions, relies heavily on natural rainfall to maintain its levels.
Despite the absence of water, the gorge remains a destination for hikers, though the typical experience of thundering waterfalls has been replaced by walking along dry creek beds. The site, which attracts 40,000 tourists annually, recently reopened following a period of closure for safety upgrades. Authorities invested over €2 million to improve the trail systems and wooden walkways following a fatal accident in 2020.
Entities
Alps · Austrian Alpine Club · Bärenschützklamm · Gerhard Jantscher · Mixnitz Stream
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Bärenschützklamm gorge attracts approximately 40,000 tourists annually. de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · gr.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Bärenschützklamm gorge experienced a total cessation of water flow by the end of July 2026. de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · gr.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Authorities invested more than €2 million to improve safety measures and walkway systems in the gorge. de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · gr.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] At least one week of continuous rain is required to recover the water levels in the Bärenschützklamm. de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · gr.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Mixnitz Stream, which flows through the gorge, originates on the Sommeralm. de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · gr.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com