Walchensee

Walchensee, also called Lake Walchen, is one of the deepest and largest alpine lakes in Germany. It is very deep, reaching a maximum depth of 192.3 metres, and covers an area of 16.4 square kilometres. The lake lies 75 kilometres south of Munich in the middle of the Bavarian Alps.

The whole lake, including an island named Sassau, is part of the municipality of Kochel and is owned by the Bavarian State. On its eastern and southern sides, the lake touches the area of Jachenau. Walchensee is a beautiful and important natural feature in the region.

Etymology

The name Walchen comes from old German words meaning "strangers". People who lived far away, such as those in the Alps south of Bavaria, were called Welsche or Walche by locals. This idea is also used for the names of lakes in Switzerland and Salzburg.

Another idea is that the name comes from a Latin phrase meaning "lake in a valley". Old maps from the 1500s called the lake dicto Italico, meaning "leading to Italy". This is because the path through the Walchensee valley went through Mittenwald and Innsbruck toward Italy.

Geography

Walchensee is a big, deep lake in the Bavarian Alps, about 75 kilometres south of Munich. It is one of Germany’s deepest lakes, reaching a depth of 192 metres. The lake sits in a valley formed by Earth’s movement and shaped by glaciers during the ice age.

The lake’s shoreline stretches for about 27 kilometres and holds a lot of water—1.3 cubic kilometres. It is surrounded by wooded mountains with tall peaks. Small villages and farms are near the lake’s edges. The lake looks like a triangle, with its southern shore being the longest side. Because it sits in a valley, the lake has a milder climate with plenty of sunshine and protection from strong winds. Warm air can sometimes rise on sunny days, creating strong updrafts and occasional thunderstorms.

History

People have felt a strong connection to Walchensee since ancient times. For example, until the 1700s, people would throw special gold coins into the deepest part of the lake.

The lakes near Benediktbeuern Abbey and Schlehdorf Abbey were claimed by monasteries around 740 AD. These monasteries owned the lake until 1803. Today, the state of Bavaria owns Walchensee.

In the early 1900s, people in Munich wanted to use the big height difference between Walchensee and Kochelsee to make electricity. Work to build this started after World War I, and in 1924, water from Walchensee was used to make power for the first time at the Walchensee Hydroelectric Power Station.

Since the 1950s, Walchensee has become a favorite place for people to visit from Munich and other nearby cities. Today, many people in the area depend on tourism for their jobs.

Biology

The waters of Walchensee are very clear and have a beautiful turquoise-green color because of the calcium carbonate in them. The lake water is clean and cold, especially in summer when it is between 17 °C and 20 °C. The lake and its shores are protected to keep nature safe. Some parts of the shore are for people to enjoy, like swimming, while other parts are steep and wild.

The island of Sassau in the lake is a nature reserve that is closed to visitors all year. It is small but important for wildlife.

Many types of fish live in Walchensee, and some of them are rare in the area. The lake is also a good home for birds, offering places to nest and rest. Plants and tiny organisms grow throughout the lake, helping to support the many animals that live there.

Tourism

Like other big lakes, such as Tegernsee, Walchensee is very important for tourism in the area. People who love windsurfing and sailing enjoy the steady winds during the summer. The lake's clear water, sometimes up to 40 metres (130 ft) deep, and many old cars, boats, and planes underwater make it a special place for scuba divers. Besides swimming and hiking, people can also hike and cross-country ski in the mountains during winter.

There is a gondola lift called the Herzogstandbahn that runs from spring to fall, taking visitors from Walchensee up to Fahrenberg. From there, you can walk to the top of the Herzogstand mountain in about 30–45 minutes.

Fishing

The lake belongs to the Bavarian State. A group of professional fishers take care of it. People can get permits to fish there.

Points of interest

Walchensee Power Station

In 1924, a company built a special factory by the lake to make electricity. Water from the lake flows down mountains through pipes to help create power. A long tunnel was built to bring more water from nearby rivers into the lake. The lake holds a lot of water, about 1.3 billion cubic meters. Two smaller factories were also built by the lake.

Only lots of water are taken from the lake in winter so that it does not bother people who visit during busy times. Because the water level changes a lot in winter, the lake does not freeze anymore.

The ice that forms in small parts of the lake is very thin and people are not allowed to walk on it.

Wrecks

At the bottom of the lake, there are many old things sunk under water, including three airplanes. From World War II, there is an old fighting plane and a big bombing plane. There is also the remains of another airplane that fell into the lake in 1978.

Two old cars, a small car and a bigger car, are also popular for divers to see.

Landscape painting

In 1934, an artist painted a picture of Walchensee. The painting is kept in a museum in Munich today.

After World War I, another famous artist lived near the lake. He spent many summers there and painted the lake more than 60 times. His paintings of the lake are very well known.