Formarinsee

The Formarinsee is a high mountain lake in the Lechquellengebirge range, set in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg. It lies at 1,793 metres above sea level, close to the Red Wall rock face and the Formaletsch peak, within the boundaries of Dalaas. Every year the lake forms anew from melting snow and ice. Its outflow passes underground beneath the Red Wall, crossing the European watershed. Nearby, the Formarinbach stream rises, one of the two source rivers of the Lech. The lake’s surroundings hold two notable features. To the north stands the Formarinalpe alpine pasture, while to the south the Freiburg Hut offers a challenging climb up the Red Wall. In 2014 the Formarinsee and the Red Wall were chosen as Austria’s finest place in the ORF television series Nine Places – Nine Treasures. The previous year’s winner had also been a meltwater lake, the Green Lake in Tragöß. Visitors find a remote upland setting with clear waters reflecting the surrounding peaks. The lake sits in a narrow basin surrounded by steep slopes and rocky ridges. A rough path leads from the Freiburg Hut to the Red Wall, demanding sure-footedness and a head for heights. The air is cool and thin at this altitude, and the only sounds come from wind and water. The scene changes with the seasons, from ice-covered winter to summer when snowmelt swells the waters.