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{{Short description|Subgroup of Austrian Central subgroup of Eastern Alps, Central Europe}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name=Tux Alps
| photo=Patscherkofel vm01.jpg
| photo_caption=Patscherkofel (2,246m/7,369ft)
| country=Austria
| state=[[Tyrol (state)|Tyrol]] 
| state1=
| parent=Central Eastern Alps
| highest=Lizumer Reckner
| elevation_m=2886
| coordinates = {{coord|47|10|N|11|38|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area_km2= | length_km= | length_orientation=
| width_km= | width_orientation=
| geology= | period= | orogeny=
| map= | map_caption=
}}

The '''Tux Alps''' ({{langx|de|Tuxer Alpen}}) or '''Tux Prealps''' (''Tuxer Voralpen'') are a sub-group of the [[Austrian Central Alps]], which in turn form part of the [[Eastern Alps]] within Central Europe. They are located entirely within the Austrian federal state of [[Tirol (Bundesland)|Tyrol]]. The Tux Alps are one of three mountain ranges that form an Alpine backdrop to the city of [[Innsbruck]]. Their highest peak is the [[Lizumer Reckner]], {{Höhe|2886|AT|link=true}}, which rises between the glen of [[Wattentaler Lizum]] and the valley of the [[Navisbach]]. Their name is derived from the village of [[Tux (Tyrol)|Tux]] which is tucked away in a side valley of the [[Zillertal]].

The [[Alpenvereinseinteilung der Ostalpen|Alpine Club classification of the Eastern Alps (AVE)]] calls this range the Tux Alps. The name Tux Prealps was declared in the 1984 edition of the AVE as outdated and not longer applicable. The reality is that the mountain range can hardly be described as "prealps" in view of their sheer extent and height. The description only makes any sense when the range is seen in the context of the [[Zillertal Alps]] to the south, which are considerably higher than the Tux Alps and permanently covered in glaciers.

== Neighbouring ranges ==

The Tux Alps are surrounded by the following other ranges in the Alps:

* [[Karwendel]] (to the north)
* [[Brandenberg Alps]] (to the northeast)
* [[Kitzbühel Alps]] (to the east)
* [[Zillertal Alps]] (to the south)
* [[Stubai Alps]] (to the west)

[[File:Rastkogel HQ.jpg|thumb|The Rastkogel (2,762&nbsp;m), a popular ski touring goal]]

== Boundary ==
To the north the [[lower Inn valley]] forms the boundary of this range from Innsbruck downstream to the Inn's confluence with the 
[[Ziller (river)|Ziller]]. The Ziller valley (Zillertal) borders the range in the east from the mouth of the Ziller on the Inn upstream as far as [[Mayrhofen]]. In the south the [[Tuxertal]] valley outlines the range from Mayrhofen to Hintertux. From there the boundary continues up to the saddle of the [[Tuxer Joch]] and through the [[Schmirntal]] valley to [[St. Jodok|Sankt Jodok]]. To the west the Tux Alps are bounded by the [[Wipptal]] valley from Sankt Jodok downstream to Innsbruck.

The [[Tuxer Joch]] saddle links the Tux Alps to the Zillertal Alps.

The Tux Alps are a popular [[ski touring]] and hiking area. Its ski resorts are Glungezer, Lizum im Wattental, [[Hochfügen-Hochzillertal]], Penken and Kellerjoch, Patscherkofel.  The [[Patscherkofel]] mountain was a venue for the [[1964 Winter Olympics|1964]] and [[1976 Winter Olympics]] held in nearby [[Innsbruck]].

== Major peaks ==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Lizumer Reckner]], 2,886&nbsp;m
* [[Geier (Tux Alps)|Geier]], 2,857&nbsp;m
* [[Kalkwand (Tux Alps)|Kalkwand]], 2,826&nbsp;m
* [[Rosenjoch]], 2,796&nbsp;m
*[[Rastkogel]], 2,762&nbsp;m
* [[Malgrübler]], 2,749&nbsp;m
* [[Hirzer (Tux Alps)|Hirzer]], 2,725&nbsp;m 
*[[Glungezer]], 2,677&nbsp;m
*[[Gilfert]], 2,506&nbsp;m
* [[Grüblspitze]], 2,395&nbsp;m
*[[Kellerjoch]], 2,344&nbsp;m
*[[Patscherkofel]], 2,246&nbsp;m
{{colend}}

== Geology ==
[[File:Lizumer Reckner S.JPG|thumb|The highest mountain in the Tux Alps, the Lizumer Reckner, is made of [[serpentinite]].]]
The largest part of the Tux Alps comprises [[Metamorphic facies|low grade metamorphic]] rocks, that are classified as part of the ''Innsbruck quartz-phyllite complex'' (quartzitic [[phyllite]] slate). Next to this zone of [[Paleozoic]] rocks to the south there is a localised zone of various [[Mesozoic]] rocks, the so-called ''Tarntal Mesozoic''. This complex zone belongs, like the quartz-phyllite zone, to the tectonic unit of the Lower Eastern Alps. Amongst the rocks of Tarntal Mesozoic may be found [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]] and [[limestone]]s that are the basis of rock faces (''Kalkwand'' and ''Torwand'') in the area of the Wattentaler Lizum. On the other hand, there are also elements of the former ocean bed, in the shape of [[serpentinite]] that make up the Lizumer Reckner. The southern perimeter of the Tux Alps belongs to the tectonically deeper-lying [[Penninic]] ''[[Hohe Tauern window]]''.<ref>Rainer Brandner u.a.: ''Überblick zu den Ergebnissen der geologischen Vorerkundung für den Brenner-Basistunnel'' in Geo.Alp, Vol. 5, pp. 165–174, Innsbruck, 2008.</ref> Here in the Tux Alps these are mainly rocks of the Penninic ''Glockner Nappe'' (calc-schist envelope of the Tauern). The northeasternmost corner of the Tux Alps, from the area of [[Schwaz]] to [[Fügen (Zillertal)|Fügen im Zillertal]], belongs to the Upper Eastern Alpine ''[[greywacke zone]]'', which consists of Paleozoic rocks. [[Silver]] and [[copper]] were once extensively mined in this zone in the area around Schwaz.<ref>Tirol Atlas, ''Geologische Übersichtskarte von Tirol'' 1:300,000, Entwurf: Rainer Brandner.</ref>

== Long-distance hiking trails ==

The long-distance hiking trail known as the "Munich to Venice Dream Path" (''Traumpfad München-Venedig'') runs through the Tux Alps. This is not an official [[long-distance trail]]. Nevertheless, the route, which was first proposed in 1977, has achieved a greater profile than many of the other trails officially established and maintained by states or rambling clubs.

The 9th day leg of the dream trail runs from Hall in Tirol up to the [[Glungezer Hut]]; the next stage over the ''seven tuxer summits'' and the Naviser Jöchl to the [[Lizumer Hut]] which is operated by the Austrian Alpine Club section at Hall.

The 10th and 11th days run from the Lizumer Hut to the [[Tuxer Joch Haus]], then over the Pluderling Saddle and the Gschützspitze Saddle.
 
Other long-distance trails in the Tux Alps are the Eagle Way (''Adlerweg''), the [[Via Alpina]] (red), Olympic Way (''Olympiaweg''), Glungezer & Geier Way No. 335 (''Glungezer&Geier-Weg 335''), and Central Alpine Way No. 02a.

== Huts ==
[[File:Glungezerhuette.jpg|thumb|The Glungezer Hut]]
The following Alpine Club huts are located in the Tux Alps:
{{colbegin}}
* [[Glungezer Hut]]
* [[Kellerjoch Hut]]
* [[Lizumer Hut]]
* Meißner Haus
* Navis Hut
* Patscherkofelhaus
* [[Rastkogel Hut]]
* Vinzenz Tolling Hut
* [[Voldertal Hut]]
* Weertal Hut
* [[Weiden Hut]]
{{colend}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.lizumerhuette.at/ Glungez Hut, Lizum Hut]
*[http://www.adlerweg.tirol.at/ Adlerweg]
*[http://www.alpenverein.at/hall-in-tirol/ OeAV Hall]

{{Central Eastern Alps}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tux Alps| ]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of the Alps]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Tyrol (federal state)]]