Europaschutzgebiet Salzachauen

In its lower course, the Salzach forms the state border between Upper Austria and Bavaria from the state border with Salzburg to its confluence with the Inn near Braunau. In this area, the river is accompanied on both banks by alluvial forests, which are protected on the right bank in Upper Austria in the Salzachauen European nature reserve.

Over a length of around 60 kilometres, the river can flow, if not unregulated, at least free of barrages. Together with neighbouring protected areas, such as the Ettenau European nature reserve or the Lower Inn European nature reserve, the Salzach floodplains form a network of protected habitats of international standing. Not only do rare fish such as the Huchen still migrate freely here and can therefore reproduce undisturbed. There is also an extensive protected breeding and wintering area for countless bird species. The Salzach floodplains are criss-crossed by numerous oxbow lakes, which are bordered by near-natural riparian forests of grey alder, ash and willow. They are repeatedly interrupted by litter meadows, which further enhance the habitat, especially for insects and birds. Nature observers can explore this extraordinary landscape on the Tauern cycle path, for example, which follows the Salzach from Salzburg on its way to its confluence with the Inn.