The
Zugspitze, at 2,962 m (9,718 ft) above
sea level, is the highest peak of the
Wetterstein Mountains as well as the highest
mountain in
Germany. It lies south of the town of
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the border between Germany and Austria runs over its western summit. South of the mountain is the
Zugspitzplatt, a high
karst plateau with numerous caves. On the flanks of the Zugspitze are three glaciers, including the two largest in Germany: the Northern Schneeferner with an area of 30.7
hectares and the
Höllentalferner with an area of 24.7 hectares. The third is the Southern Schneeferner which covers 8.4 hectares.