Blausee (Bernese Oberland)

Blue lake
	The Blausee
Geographical location	Bernese Oberland
	Data
Coordinates	617345 / 153492 coordinates: 46 ° 31 '57 " N , 7 ° 39' 53" O ; CH1903: 617345 / 153492
Altitude above sea level	887 m
surface	0.64 ha
Maximum depth	12 m
particularities	Deep blue color, numerous trout

The Blue Lake , despite its small size of 0.64 hectares one of the most famous mountain lakes of Switzerland . It is a popular destination in the Bernese Oberland . It is located near Mitholz in the area of the municipality of Kandergrund .

location

The Blausee lies at 887 m above sea level. M. in the Kandertal south of the village of Kandergrund right next to the river Kander . You can reach it via the train stations in Frutigen or Kandersteg , from which a bus goes to Blausee. Large parking spaces are available for drivers.

history

The Blausee was created over 15,000 years ago by a rock fall , in the ruins of which the lake lies today. When the Zurich merchant Johann Leemann-Boller roamed the Kandertal as a tourist, he came across the area around the Blausee. In 1878 he bought the lake and land from Frutiger host Johann Reichen-Bhend. With the development of the valley by the Lötschbergbahn and the expansion of the road, the whole region experienced an upswing. The tourism increased strongly and the Blausee quickly became a popular attraction for tourists. A hotel was built and a fish farm was set up. The hotel and restaurant are also open in winter. The history of the Blausee is presented in a small exhibition.

Karl Baedeker wrote in his travel guide Switzerland in 1869 : "... hidden to the right in the fir forest is the little blue lake, strange because of its deep blue color." In 1885 he wrote in a new edition: "... a path leads to the blue lake (not to be missed!), Strange through its play of blue colors and its picturesque surroundings, wooded with fir trees and rocks." In 1885, Johann Jakob von Tschudi mentions the Blausee as a “scenic gem of magical forest solitude” and the cozy little guesthouse.

lake

Sculpture in the lake

The Blausee is located in a 20 hectare wooded nature park with walking paths, picnic areas and fire pits. Because the lake is fed from underground springs, the water is crystal clear. The tree trunks and rocks, which are up to 12 m under water, appear to be just below the surface.

Since water absorbs long-wave (red) light more strongly than short-wave (blue) light, it appears deep blue and blue-green. According to a legend, the blue color comes from the blue eyes of a young girl who went into the water to mourn the death of her lover. Since then, the lake has been wearing the blue color as a reminder of the unfortunate. The sculpture in the lake by the Glattfeld artist Raffael Fuchs from 1998 also commemorates the legend .

Special

An organic trout farm is set up next to the hotel. The trout are delivered to restaurants throughout the Kandertal and can be bought in a shop at the entrance to the park. The site is fenced in , and an entry fee is charged all year round.