View from Krippenstein over the Dachstein plateau in SW direction. This highland is sparsely vegetated despite plenty of precipitation: water quickly seeps into an extensive cave system, and soil formation is slow. Undergound drainage is also the reason for the fact that the plateau has not been dissected by rivers. Peaks in the background are from left to right: Koppenkarstein (2863 m), Gjaidstein (2794 m), Hoher Dachstein (2995 m), Hohes Kreuz (2837 m), and Hoher Ochsenkogel (2527 m).