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The Metnitz Mountains lie between the Mur and Metnitz valleys. Their highest peak is the Goldachnock (2,171 m).
The Mödring Chain lies between the Metnitz and Gurktal valleys. The highest peak is the Dorferecken (1,726 m)
The Wimitz Mountains lie between the Gurk and Glan valleys through which flows the Wimitz river. Their highest peaks are the Schneebauerberg and the Hocheck (both 1,338 m)
At the southern end of the Gurktal Alps is the Klagenfurt Basin. Here there are seven smaller mountain chains:
The Gurktal Alps are, along with the Lavanttal Alps to the east, sometimes classified as part of the Noric Alps. However, this term is not geologically justified.[1]
Peaks
The highest peaks are located within the Nock Mountains (Nockberge, from Nock meaning "rounded hilltop", cf. Nockerl) subgroup west of Flattnitz Pass, including Mt. Eisenhut, 2,441 m (8,009 ft), in the province of Styria. The Nationalpark Nockberge located along the scenic Nockalm Road in Carinthia has been a protected landscape area (IUCN V) since 1987. The Nock Mountains also stretch down to major Carinthian lakes such as the Millstätter See and Ossiacher See.
The Gurktal Alps consist mainly of three tectonic plates: at the bottom, the "mica schist plate", in the middle the "Murau plate", and the "Stolzalpen plate" at the top.
The lowest plate is made of mica schist, the middle plate is made of greenstone slates, phyllite, and marble. The top plate, the Stolzalpen plate, consisted of slates of originally similar age, but which have been transformed and now appear with clay slates, volcanic rocks, and limestone.
Economy and tourism
The landscape has numerous mountain pastures and was the site of transhumance agriculture. The Gurktal Alps were also a mining area for iron and silver. Magnesite deposits are still being exploited near Radenthein.
The Nock Mountain region is well known for its spas. The Karlbad along the Nockalmstraße is the oldest farmers' healing spring in Austria.[citation needed] The method of creating the baths (with spring water and hot rocks) has remained unchanged since the 17th century.[citation needed]