Grüner See (Styria)

Grüner See (Green Lake) is a lake in Styria, Austria in a village named Tragöß. The lake is surrounded by the Hochschwab Mountains and forests.[1] The name "Green Lake" originated because of its emerald-green water.[1] The clean and clear water comes from the snowmelt from the karst mountains and has a temperature of 6–7 °C (43–45 °F).[1] During winter, the lake is only 1–2 m (3–7 ft) deep and the surrounding area is used as a county park.

Grüner See
Grüner See (Green Lake) against Meßnerin in May 2007
Grüner See
Location	Tragöß, Styria, Austria
Coordinates	47°32′30″N 15°3′21″E
Basin countries	Austria
Max. depth	up to 12 m (39 ft)

However, in spring, when the temperature rises and snow melts, the basin of land below the mountains fills with water. The lake reaches its maximum depth of around 12 m (39 ft) from mid-May to June and is claimed to look the most beautiful at this time.[1] In July, the water begins to recede.

The lake supports a variety of fauna such as snails, water fleas (Daphnia pulex), small crabs, fly larvae, and different species of trout (Salmo).[1] The flora is not abundant because of the rocky bottom of the lake.[1] Furthermore, the lake’s depth is variable since its inflow comes from snowmelt.[1]

The lake was popular among divers who could observe the green meadows in the edge zone of the lake particularly in June when the water is at its highest.[1] A bridge and a bench could also be found underwater.[1] Furthermore, trails and trees could also be seen underwater.[2]

Because of the spike in tourist visits that has occurred and expected damage to this sensitive environment, the use of this lake for all watersports activities has been prohibited since 1 January 2016.[3]