The Ennsvalley is in the middle of Austria and was named after the largest river in the valley. The Enns is a 254 kilometers long tributary of the Danube. It rises in the province of Salzburg in the Radstätter Tauern. From Salzburg the Enns flows eastwards through Styria. Between Admont and Hieflau in Upper Styria, the Enns breaks through a Narrow valley - the Gesäuse in the Ennstal Alps before it flows north to Upper Austria. In the last section is the Enns, the boundary between Upper and Lower Austria. Between the villages of Mauthausen and Enns empties the Enns, as 100m wide river, into the Danube.

The Ennsvalley is one of the major valleys in Austria, and forms the geological boundary between the Northern Limestone Alps and the Central Alps south of the river Enns. The mountains of the northern Limestone Alps are often very steep and less forested than the south of the Central gentler mountains are more accessible for hikers. Where the mountains from east to west are becoming increasingly burdensome. The upper Ennsvalley at the border between the Austrian provinces of Salzburg and Styria, the Enns river flows south past the Dachstein glacier. The Dachstein 2.995m is the highest mountain in Styria. The people in the Ennsvalley live mainly from tourism and agriculture.

The largest alpine winter sports region can be found around Schladming, Dachstein-Tauern-region. Who the mass tourism is not so wish, you can resort to the small ski areas further east, such as in Gröbming (Stoderzinken) Donnersbach (Planneralm Riesneralm) and Admont (Kaiserau). Beautiful country skiing areas are available in Ramsau am Dachstein, Tauplitzalm, Liezen / Pyhrn Admont / Kaiserau. This provides the upper and middle Ennstal for ski touring, snowshoe hiking, or simply seeking relaxation many wonderful tours and lonely remote valleys.

In the spring, summer and autumn there are many hiking trails, bike trails and mountain bike tours in the Ennsvalley. The Ennsvalley is thus a wonderful holiday destination for skiers, snowboarders, ski mountaineers, skiers and those seeking relaxation in the winter, and many tourists come in summer, at the Enns valley to hiking, climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking and exploring by bicycle on one of the many cycling the beautiful Alpine area . The Gesäuse is popular with rafting and kayaking. In the Ennsvalley, many protected areas were created. Such as "Naturpark Sölktäler", Gesaeuse National Park and the Limestone Alps National Park.

The Dead Mountains lies in the eastern Alps and belongs to the northern limestone alps. The 1.130km² divided to districts Liezen, Gmunden and Kirchdorf an der Krems on in the two provinces of Styria and Upper Austria. The plateau of the Dead Mountains themselves divided into Priel, Warscheneck, and Schoenberg group. In the largest karst area in Europe, the water drained very quickly and therefore the area is barren. Dachstein limestone and dolomite are the two most common types of rock in the Dead Mountains. The Dead mountain is also known for its about 600 caves and wells. The Schoenberg-cave system is with 125 kilometers and a depth of 1070m, the longest cave. The highest mountain in the Dead Mountains is the "Große Priel with 2.515m. The most famous lakes in the Dead Mountains are: Altausseer Lake, Grundlsee, Offensee, Almsee, Ödsee, Elmsee, Schwarzensee, Steirersee, Lahngangseen and Wildensee. Besides the well known ski resorts Loser, Tauplitzalm, Hinterstoder and Wurzeralm the Dead Mountains in winter offers a great many ski tours, tobogganing, cross-country trails and lovely, romantic villages in winter dress. In the summer coming, many mountain bikers, cyclists, hikers, mountaineers, climbers, paragliders and recreation seekers to the area of the Dead Mountains.