Brief information about the Grüner See:
- Where is the Green Lake located? The Grüner See is a karst lake in Styria in the municipality of Tragöß-Sankt Katharein in the Oberort district.
- What can you experience here? Take a walk and enjoy the view.
- How much is the entrance fee? No entrance fee for the lake. The day ticket for the car park costs €6
- Can you swim in the Green Lake? No, it is a protected species.
- When is the Green Lake at its most beautiful? From May until late summer. When the water level is high, you can discover sunken hiking trails, wooden bridges and benches.
- How long do you walk around the lake? This is extremely dependent on the time of year, as the water level and therefore the route changes. But allow about 1 hour.
How do you get to the Green Lake?
You cannot drive directly to the lake. There is a large car park in front of the lake, but you have to walk the last 20-30 minutes. The day ticket for parking costs €6, and if you don't have enough coins, there is also a change machine. In spring and summer, the car park can fill up very quickly!
Attention: There are 2 ways to get to the lake. From the car park, a path on the right leads through the forest to the rear part of the lake (walking time approx. 30 min). If you continue along the tarmac road, you will reach the front part (walking time approx. 20 min)
The Green Lake in general
The lake gently fills with very clear water as the snow melts on the surrounding mountain slopes. The water is therefore cold (5 to 6 °C) and the water level is highly dependent on the time of year. When we visit it in October, it is not even 3 metres deep at its deepest point. In early summer, the depth can quickly reach 10 metres. Meadows with hiking trails and benches are then above the water level again.
Why is the lake green?
Pure water absorbs red light components and therefore appears blue-greenish in thick layers. Finely crushed rock suspended in the water primarily reflects the blue-green components of the light. The lake is perceived as "shimmering emerald green". It lacks the dark muddy subsoil found in large areas of permanent lakes. The extraordinarily high visibility in the water is up to 50 metres.
Why is the lake so famous?
On 25 October 2014, the Grüner See was voted Austria's most beautiful hidden spot by viewers and a jury on the Austria-wide ORF TV show 9 Plätze - 9 Schätze. Photos of the sunken park bench were also repeatedly posted on social media. Since then, the lake has been attracting an international influx of tourists.
This probably contributed to the fact that on 8 October 2015, the Tragöß tourism association Diving ban and a ban on any other use (swimming, boating, etc.). The reason given for this is the negative impact of sediment being stirred up by water sports and diving activities. The ban has been in force since 1 January 2016
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