<Tr> <Th> First ascent </Th> <Td> 27 August 1820 by Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl and survey assistant, Maier </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Easiest route </Th> <Td> Reintal Route </Td> </Tr> <P> The Zugspitze, (German pronunciation: (ˈtsukʃpɪtsə); Southern Bavarian: Zugspitz) 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 Austria--Germany border 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 . </P> <P> The Zugspitze was first climbed on 27 August 1820 by Josef Naus, his survey assistant, Maier, and mountain guide, Johann Georg Tauschl . Today there are three normal routes to the summit: one from the Höllental valley to the northeast; another out of the Reintal valley to the southeast; and the third from the west over the Austrian Cirque (Österreichische Schneekar). One of the best known ridge routes in the Eastern Alps runs along the knife - edged Jubilee Ridge (Jubiläumsgrat) to the summit, linking the Zugspitze, the Hochblassen and the Alpspitze . For mountaineers there is plenty of nearby accommodation . On the western summit of the Zugspitze itself is the Münchner Haus and on the western slopes is the Wiener - Neustädter Hut . </P>

What is the name of the highest mountain in germany