Vorderer Gosau lake

Vorderer Gosau lake
Vorderer Gosausee with Dachstein 2006
Geographical location	Gosau , Upper Austria ; Dachstein massif , Salzkammergut
Tributaries	underground
Drain	underground to Gosaubach , Hallstätter See , Traun
Places on the shore	Vordergosaualm
Data
Coordinates	47 ° 31 '43 "  N , 13 ° 30' 23"  E Coordinates: 47 ° 31 '43 "  N , 13 ° 30' 23"  E
Altitude above sea level	933  m above sea level A.
surface	52 ha
length	1.8 km
width	500 m
volume	24,700,000 m³
Maximum depth	82 m
Middle deep	35 m

The Vordere Gosausee is a mountain lake in the Salzkammergut in the municipality of Gosau and was of course created as a glacier retreat lake during the last Ice Age. It is fed by underground springs in the rear part of the lake. The natural part of the runoff reaches the Brunnbach brooks in Gosau underground .

The view from the lake outflow towards the Dachstein is one of the most famous mountain motifs in Austria. The almost symmetrical image of the Dachstein glacier framed by the Gosau ridge offers a wonderful sight, especially when there is no wind and the lake is reflecting, but also when the sun sets.

The natural water level of the Vorderen Gosau lake was originally a few meters lower and the lake was not accessible on the left side in the direction of the Dachstein. The path to the alpine pastures on the Gosaulacke and the Hinterer Gosau Lake led right below the falls of the Gosaukamm. In 1907, as part of the first construction work on the Gosau power plant chain, the lake was provided with a work road on the left side that was blasted through the rock of the Lärchkogel and led to the Hinterer Gosau lake. The Stern & Hafferl transport company then planned five hydropower plants to operate with the water of Gosautals. With the power plants Steeg (reservoir Gosau Vordertal), Gosauschmied (reservoir Gosau Hintertal) and Gosau (reservoir Vorderer Gosausee) 3 of these construction projects were also realized. The Gosaulacke and Hinterer Gosausee power plants were not implemented after dyeing tests revealed that the basin of the Hinterer Gosau lake is not tight and largely drains into the source of the forest stream. In the course of the work on the power plant chain in 1913, the Vordere Gosausee was dammed by around 12 m in addition in order to generate more electricity; it received the image it is today. If the water is drained to generate electricity in winter ( maximum electricity consumption ), the water depth gradually sinks to only 36 m and large areas of gravel become visible.

The lake is very popular with divers because of its clear water in the summer months (damming phase).

Every year in May there is a 2-person relay race on the approximately 4.5 km long flat circular hiking trail around the lake.

The "Laserer-Alpin-Klettersteig" is situated on the eastern shore of the lake on the steep slopes of the Lärchkogel.

Several species of fish live in the lake; the pill ( minnow ) was native, rainbow trout , perch and pike are used. Another local fish was the black rider , a small species of char that died out 50 years ago after the trout was introduced.

At the beginning of the lake, which is accessible via the main road from Gosau and has plenty of parking spaces, there is the valley station of the Gosaukammbahn to the Gablonzer Hütte , an entry point to the Dachstein-West ski area and, in summer, to many hiking routes. From the Vorderen Gosau lake, mountaineers also begin the ascent of the Hohe Dachstein via the Adamekhütte at the foot of the great Gosau glacier.

• Historical views
• 

  Paul Weber : View of the Gosausee , 1866

• 

  Bertha von Grab : Gosau Gorge on the way to Lake Gosau , 1874

• 

  Anton Hansch: View from Gosau to the Dachstein , around 1876

• 

  Josef Thoma: View of the Gosau Lake , 1899

• 

  Gosausee with Dachstein , photochrom, around 1900

• 

  Carl Kaiser-Herbst: Homestead on Lake Gosau , around 1940

Individual evidence

1. ^ Arge diving: Vorderer Gosausee
2. ↑ http://www.bergstieg.com/klettersteig/oberoesterreich/dachsteingebirge/laserer-alpin-klettersteig
3. ↑ hallstatt.net