| Birnlücke | |
|---|---|
 The Birnlücke from Italy looking towards Krimmler Kees in Tyrol | |
| Elevation | 2,665 m (8,743 ft) |
| Traversed by | Saumpfad |
| Location | |
| Range | Venediger Group,Zillertal Alps |
| Coordinates | 47°05′12.84″N12°13′05.64″E / 47.0869000°N 12.2182333°E /47.0869000; 12.2182333 |
 Interactive map of Birnlücke | |
TheBirnlücke (2,665 m (AA)) is the border pass at the western end of theHohe Tauern mountains inAustria, between theVenediger Group and the adjoiningZillertal Alps. Theborder between Austria and Italy has run over the pass since 1919. The pass forms the border between the Austrian state ofSalzburg and the Italian province ofSouth Tyrol, the valleys of theKrimmler Achental andAhrntal, and theRieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park andHohe Tauern National Park.
Until theSchengen Agreement there used to be a regular border checkpoint atKrimmler Tauern (2,634 metres [8,642 ft]).
Not far south of the border crossing at2,441 m s.l.m. is theBirnlücken Hut (Rifugio Tridentina). It was built in 1900 and named after the pass.
The nameBirnlücke is a corruption of the old spelling. As late as 1888 the pass was calledPyrlücke, after the old names for the stream, thePirra orBirlbach, in the Ahrn valley.[1] The Italian name isForcella del Picco.
