Human activity in the magnificent natural landscape of the Salzkammergut, Austria began in prehistoric times, with the salt deposits being exploited as early as the 2nd millennium B.C. This resource formed the basis of the area's prosperity up to the middle of the 20th century, a prosperity that is reflected in the fine architecture of towns like Hallstatt. Large parts of the region were listed as a World Heritage Site in 1997. The ASTER perspective view was created from data acquired June 22, 2003, draped over an ASTER DEM. It is located at 47.5 degrees north latitude, 13.6 degrees east longitude.