Austria Yanks Alpine Peaks Off Market

Selling Alps is 'selling nation's soul,' say critics
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 15, 2011 3:17 AM CDT
Austria Yanks Alpine Peaks Off Market
The Alps still belong to the nation as Austria agency decides to hold off selling two peaks to highest bidder following uproar.   (?jeffwilcox)

The hills are still alive for the public. Austria has decided to yank prime real estate off the market after residents screamed about the nation's plans to auction off two alpine peaks. "We have suspended the sale to evaluate alternative possibilities," said a spokesman for the agency that buys state property and manages it for the public. He said the transaction will likely go ahead but that buyers would be restricted to "Austrian institutions" instead of the highest bidder. The Rosskopf peak, at more than 8,500 feet high, and the Grosse Kinigat, nearly 8,800 feet, were expected to sell for a total of $175,000, reports AP. "Whoever wants to sell our mountains seeks to sell the soul of our country," warned a spokesman for one organization opposing the sky-high sale. (More Austria stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X