Salzach (Saalbach)

The Salzach is a river in Austria and Germany, approximately 227 kilometers (141 miles) long. It is a right tributary of the Inn River.

The Salzach rises in the Kitzbühel Alps in the Austrian state of Salzburg, near the border with Tyrol. It flows generally eastward through the Salzach Valley, passing through or near Zell am See, Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße, and the city of Salzburg. After Salzburg, it forms the border between Austria (Salzburg and Upper Austria) and Germany (Bavaria) for a considerable distance, flowing past towns such as Oberndorf bei Salzburg and Laufen. The Salzach eventually joins the Inn River at Haiming, Bavaria.

Historically, the Salzach was an important transportation route, particularly for the trade of salt, which is abundant in the Salzburg region. The river's name derives from the German word "Salz," meaning salt. The barges transporting salt contributed significantly to the wealth and prosperity of Salzburg.

Saalbach, mentioned parenthetically, is a separate entity. Saalbach-Hinterglemm is a municipality in the Austrian state of Salzburg, known primarily as a popular ski resort in the winter and a hiking and mountain biking destination in the summer. While located relatively close to the Salzach river's source, Saalbach-Hinterglemm is not directly on the river itself.