Category: Lakes & swimming

Lake Maggiore stretches from Ticino into Italy; its Swiss northern end around Locarno and Ascona is known for its mild, almost Mediterranean climate, palm-lined promenades and camellia blossom. At the lake’s surface, Locarno holds the lowest point in Switzerland at around 197 m. Above the town towers the pilgrimage church Madonna del Sasso, reachable by…

The Verzasca valley north of Locarno is famous for the exceptionally clear, emerald-green water of the Verzasca river. Its landmark is the double-arched stone bridge Ponte dei Salti near Lavertezzo, often called the “Roman bridge”. At the valley exit, the 220 m high Verzasca dam holds back the lake, known for the bungee jump in the James Bond opening of “GoldenEye”.HighlightsCrystal-clear, emerald-green river waterPonte…

The Obersee is a quiet mountain lake about 600 metres south-east of the Königssee, reached via the Salet boat landing. The Röthbach Falls plunge over the Röthwand, at around 380 m the highest waterfall in Germany.HighlightsBoat trip across the Königssee to Salet, then a short walkTurquoise, very quiet mountain lake framed by steep rock facesRöthbach Falls – at around 380…

A staffed Alpine Club hut (1,638 m) of the DAV Berchtesgaden section, north-west of the Funtensee in the Steinernes Meer. The nearby Funtensee is regarded as Germany's cold pole (−45.9 °C on 24 Dec 2001).HighlightsClassic base for crossing the Steinernes MeerThe Funtensee as Germany's cold pole (a frost hollow with a cold-air lake)Ascent from the Königssee via the Saugasse (from Salet or St. Bartholomä)Starting point for peaks such as…

The Hintersee is a small mountain lake about two kilometres west of the centre of Ramsau. It formed around 3,500 to 4,000 years ago, when a rockslide from the Hochkalter massif dammed the Klausbach.HighlightsClear, turquoise-green water reflecting the Hochkalter and Reiter AlpeZauberwald: a geotope of moss-covered rockslide blocks on the shoreHistoric 19th-century painters’ colonyCircular path around…

The Königssee is regarded as one of the cleanest and, at up to 190 metres, deepest lakes in Germany. Set between the steeply rising walls of the Watzmann massif and the Hagen mountains, it looks like a Nordic fjord that has strayed into the Alps. What makes the Königssee special Electric boats since 1909: for conservation reasons…