Obernberger See

Obernberger See lies in the Tyrolean Alps at 1,590 metres, near the Brenner Pass in the municipality of Obernberg am Brenner. It is the largest lake on the southern side of Tyrol, fed by subterranean springs from the Obernberger Seebach. The lake sits below the Obernberger Tribulaun, a peak where a prehistoric rockfall once reshaped the landscape. In late spring and early summer the water rises and the two separate parts of the lake can join again. A small chapel called Maria am See was built on the rocks in 1935. The lake is recognised for its exceptionally clear water and ranks among the most beautiful mountain lakes in Tyrol. Beneath the surface a curtain of algae grows at thirteen metres, giving the deeper water a muddy appearance. Fishing is allowed but bathing is banned to protect the trout and other fish that live in the lake. The water temperature stays between eleven and fourteen degrees throughout the season. The water level can vary by up to seven metres between high and low periods. Visitors find a quiet path circling the lake, winding past rocky outcrops and patches of alpine meadow. The chapel on the rocks overlooks the water, offering a still place for reflection. The surrounding peaks create a dramatic backdrop, especially when the two lake sections merge in early summer. The air is cool and clean, carrying the scent of pine and spruce from the nearby forests. No buildings stand close by, so the only sounds are wind in the trees and the occasional call of a bird.