| Grüner See | |
|---|---|
| Grüner See (Green Lake) against Meßnerin in May 2007 | |
| Location | Tragöß, Styria, Austria |
| Basin countries | Austria |
| Max. depth | up to 12 m |
Grüner See (Green Lake) is a lake in Styria, Austria near the town of Tragöß. The lake is surrounded by the Hochschwab mountains and forests.[1] The name “Green Lake” originated because of its emerald green water.[1] The clean and clear water comes from the snowmelt from the karst mountains and has a temperature of 6-8°C (42.8-46.4°F).[1] During the winter, the lake is only 1–2 m deep and the surrounding area is used as a county park.[2] However, during the spring, when the temperature rises and the water melts the basin of land below the mountains fill with water.[2] The lake reaches its maximum depth of around 12 m from mid-May to June and is claimed to look the most beautiful at this time.[1] In July, the water begins to recede.[2]
The lake supports a variety of fauna such as snails, water fleas (Daphnia pulex), small crabs, fly larvae, and different species of trout (Salmo).[1] The flora is not abundant because of the rocky bottom of the lake.[1] Furthermore, the lake’s depth is variable since its inflow comes from snowmelt.[1]
The lake is popular among divers who can observe the green meadows in the edge zone of the lake particularly in June when the water is at its highest.[1][2] A bridge and a bench can also be found underwater.[1]
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