Friedrich Simony

In 1851, at the University of Vienna, he attained the first professorship for geography in Austria. In this role, he conducted research in the fields of glaciology, climatology, speleology, ecology, hydrology, phytogeography, etc. From 1840 he performed geomorphological and glaciological research of the Dachstein Mountains. In September 1843 he was the first to spend the night at the summit of Hoher Dachstein (2995 m); in January 1847 he was first to achieve a winter ascent of the peak. He is credited as being the first to undertake systematic meteorological studies of the eastern Alps, similar to the research Horace-Bénédict de Saussure performed in the western Alps years earlier. He was a pioneer in the field of limnology; in 1844 he conducted depth soundings of the Hallstätter See, results of which, were published decades later in Atlas der österreichischen Alpenseen ("Atlas of the Austrian Alpine lakes", edited by Albrecht Penck and Eduard Richter, 2 volumes, 1895–96). Throughout his career, he conducted extensive investigations on the depths and temperatures of all the lakes in Salzkammergut. • Illustration — 1877 photograph of the first Simony-Hütte. In 1862 he was co-founder of the Austrian Alpine Club. Today, the organization owns a building known as the "Simony-Hütte" (Simony Hut, 2205 m). It is located near Hallstätter Glacier and is named after him. His name is also associated with several Alpine landmarks, such as: Simonykees (Simony Glacier), Simony-Scharte (Simony Notch), Simonyschneide (Simony Ridge) and Simonyspitzen (Simony Peaks).

Friedrich Simony studied at University of Vienna. Training under Joseph Franz von Jacquin is recorded. Eduard Richter is recorded as having studied under Friedrich Simony. The recorded working language is German. The field of work recorded is Dachstein Mountains, limnology and geography. Places of work recorded in the authority are Vienna. Employment is recorded with University of Vienna, LMK and Federal Geological Office. Distinctions recorded are Hauer medal and honorary citizenship.

• Die Seen des Salzkammergutes, 1850. • Die Alterthümer vom Hallstätter Salzberg und dessen Umgehung, 1851. • Physiognomischer Atlas der österreichischen Alpen, 1862. • Die Gletscher des Dachsteingebirges, 1871. • Das Dachsteingebeit: ein geographisches Charakterbild aus den österreichischen Nordalpen, 3 volumes, 1889–95).