Mattsee

Mattsee lies in the Flachgau region of Salzburg, one of three Trumer Seen that make up the Salzburger Seengebiet. The lake is also called the Niedertrumer See, named after the Mattig river whose origins may reach back to Celtic times. Originally the name Mattsee covered both parts of the lake, now separated by a narrow strip of land and known as the Obertrumer See. The lake offers clear water for swimming at sandy beaches on the southern and northern shores. Quiet sailing and windsurfing take place on its surface, while motorboats remain banned for nature protection. Electric boats can be hired and a summer passenger ship links Mattsee with the Obertrumer See through a short canal. Near the village centre the Weyerbucht bay is slowly silting up as sand builds up along the shore. Scientists monitor 100 points around the lake to plan dredging that will keep the waterway open. On land the ground has settled by two centimetres in two years, raising flood risks when the river rises.