Walensee

Walensee
Lake Walen
Lake Walenstadt

Walensee and Unterterzen, Quarten

Map
Location St. Gallen, Glarus
Coordinates 47°7′N 9°12′E / 47.117°N 9.200°ECoordinates: 47°7′N 9°12′E / 47.117°N 9.200°E
Primary inflows Linth (Escherkanal), Seez, Murgbach
Primary outflows Linth canal
Basin countries Switzerland
Surface area 24.19 km²
Average depth 104.7 m
Max. depth 151 m
Water volume 2.5 km³
Residence time 1.4258 years
Surface elevation 419 m
Islands Schnittlauchinsel
Settlements Walenstadt, Weesen, Quinten, Quarten, Murg

The Walensee is one of the larger lakes in Switzerland. About 2/3 of its surface in the Canton of St. Gallen and about 1/3 in the Canton of Glarus. It is also known as Lake Walen or Lake Walenstadt, after Walenstadt. Other towns and villages at the lake include: Weesen, Quinten, Quarten, and Murg.

The three main rivers leading to this lake are the Seez, Murgbach, and Linth. The latter continues its course from Walensee to Lake Zurich. The Schnittlauchinsel, located at the eastern end of the lake, is the only island in the Walensee.

The Churfirsten range raises steeply on the north side from the lake's level at 419 m to 2,306 m above sea level. On the south, the lake is overlooked by the massif of the Mürtschenstock, culminating at 2,441 m. The highest point of the lake's drainage basin is the Tödi (3,614 m).[1]

The lake provided the inspiration for a solo piano piece by Hungarian romantic composer Franz Liszt, called Au lac de Wallenstadt. The piece is part of a collection of solo piano works inspired by the composer's travels in 1830s Switzerland.

As seen from the Flumserberg

Map

Glarus, Glarus Alps, Pizol, Walensee, and Vorderrheintal

References

  1. ↑ 1:25,000 topographic map (Map). Swisstopo. Retrieved 2014-07-30.

External links