The Oetztal Alps, with their numerous glaciers, rich biodiversity, unspoiled alpine meadows, and powerful rivers, hold the last water reserves of the Eastern Alps. This stunning area is under threat from the enormous Kaunertal hydropower expansion project. Considered by some to be the most destructive engineering project planned for the European Alps and opposed by over 30 environmental organizations, the Kaunertal Expansion Project threatens rare habitats, functional river ecosystems, high-value agricultural land, and the recreational value of both the mountain area and Whitewater rivers.This mega project consists of four dams built within the Oetz valley, cutting off 272 km of wild river catchment and draining up to 80% of the water from the Oetztaler Ache;a 120 m-high dam in the Platzer valley that will flood 63,000 m2 of ecologically critical…
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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, Winter 2022