Present structure and prefailure topography of the giant landslide of Köfels

The Köfels landslide (Ötztal, Tirol, Austria) is recognized as the large st landslide in the crystalline Alps. This event took place about 8700 years ago according to radiocarbon dating. The geoscientific community became more interested in this event, when pumice and fused rock was found at this site. The findings gave rise to numerous theories about the cause of the landslide. The hypothesis of a volcanic event has been discarded presently, however, impact theories and purely geomechanical theories are still under consideration (Heuberger, 1994). Structural maps of the landslide and the topography of the valley before the event are a prerequesit for a decision between these theories.