Green Lake In Austria Turns Into A Park In Winter And Sinks Underwater In Summer!
There is a place in Austria that turns into a dry park in the winter and again turns into a 10-meter-deep crystal-clear lake in the summer. Yes, it’s true. ‘Grüner See’ (Green Lake) in Styria, Austria, is a dry park with walking trails, benches, and trees during the winter. However, in the spring and early summer, snowmelt from the surrounding Hochschwab Mountains fills the basin, turning it into a crystal-clear lake. The lake can reach depths of up to 10 meters (about 33 feet) at its peak. The water is so clear that the submerged park is visible, and visitors can see trees, benches, and trails beneath the surface. Let’s take a look at more details about this amazing park.
The Park that Disappears
Green Lake is located in Styria Austria, about 80 kilometers from the provincial capital of Graz. It belongs to the community of Tragöß-Sankt Kathrein and is at the foot of the Hochschwab Mountains. Green Lake is actually just a few meters deep and is used by the locals and visitors as a recreational park. It offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains capped with snow, along with the snow-covered forest alongside.
However, as the spring approaches, rising temperatures cause the snow on the Austrian Hochschwab Mountains to melt into clear, ice-cold water. This water flows downwards and gathers into the lake at the base of the mountains. The water levels rise up to 12 meters and soon, the park completely submerges.
The lake gets its peak depth during May /June when the locals claim that the view is most breathtaking.
A Fairytale Underneath
Green Lake gets its distinctive green color, which has given its name, from the grass and foliage beneath. The ice-cold water, with a temperature of 6–7 °C, resulting from the melting of clean ice, is crystal clear. So clear in fact, even the submerged structures of the park including benches bridges, and trees are visible to the viewer observing from the shore. The alpine grasses and flowers of the meadow are also visible in full bloom under the water.
Earlier the visitors dived into the lake, exploring the freezing waters and experiencing the beauty of the underwater park. However, with the increasing influx of visitors to Green Lake, diving is now prohibited due to the possible impact on the sensitive environment by the people. However, the view is as stunning even looking from the outside. This is evident by the increasing number of people visiting Green Lake each year.
By early July, the lake starts to recede and by winter, it is back to its original size, and the park is returned once more to hikers.
Things to Do at Green Lake
You can combine a trip to Green Lake, Austria, with a hike in the surrounding mountains! There are several hiking trails and mountain tours that you can participate in. There are some other lakes where swimming and diving is allowed if you have residual regrets about not exploring the icy waters.
Conclusion
Green Lake is a popular tourist attraction in Styria, Austria. Known for its distinctive emerald green color water, the lake and its surrounding area is used as a country park in winter. However, as the spring arrives, the ice on the nearby mountains melts, and the cold water drains into the lake, submerging the park. The water of the lake remains crystal clear and the submerged structures of the park are visible to the outside observer.
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