Tirol belongs to all the important geological zones of the East Alps. The Northern Limestone Alps form an approx. 50 km2 wide chain, divided into six mountain ranges from west to east: Allgäu Alps, Lechtal Alps, Wetterstein mountain range, Mieminger mountain range, Karwendel range and Kaisergebirge range.
The crystalline Central Alps, which consist largely of a granite base, are the largest and highest ranges in Austria. The Central Alps run from Tirol to approximately the Styria-Lower Austria border and include areas that are permanently glaciated in the Ötzal Alps on the Tirolean-Italian border and the High Tauern in eastern Tirol and Carinthia.
With 3772 m the Wildspitze is Tirol´s highest mountain. The Lienz Dolomites, between Drautal and Gailtal, form part of the Southern Limestone Alps. The hardrock Central Alps are separated from the Limestone Alps by the longitudinal river Inn.
