The Tannensee in the Urner Alps is the uppermost reservoir in the headwaters of the Great Melchaa , a tributary of the Sarner Aa . It is located in the Swiss canton of Obwalden in the municipality of Kerns in the area of the summer and winter sports resort Melchsee-Frutt . The 0.33 km² large lake was created by an earthfill dam , completed in 1958 , which dams the streams flowing down from the north. Due to the nearby watershed, there are hardly any tributaries to the Aare valley from the east and south .
Location and surroundings
The lake is located east of the Melchsee . The dam also faces the Melchsee. The lake is located in a rather flat high valley called Tannen , almost on the saddle to the Gental . Because of the altitude of over 1900 m, the valley lies above the tree line , fir trees do not grow here. A third-level road runs along the northern bank, which serves as an access road from the Frutt to the Tannalp , which is already draining into the Gental . A dirt road runs along the southern bank, which joins the access road at both ends. Neighboring mountains are the 2441 meter high Hohmad in the north, the Reissend Nollen with 3002 meters in the east , the Wendenstocks up to 3042 meters high and the Glogghüs (2534 m) in the southwest . The nearest significant place is Meiringen in the Aare Valley, a good 12 kilometers as the crow flies .
