Haldensee

Haldensee is a mountain lake in the Tannheim Valley of Tyrol, Austria. It sits at 1,124 metres above sea level between the villages of Grän and Nesselwängle. The lake covers 73 hectares and fills the entire valley floor. The Berger Ache flows into the Vils from the west, while the Gessenbach and Strindenbach feed the lake from the south-east and south-west. The Tannheimer Straße runs along the northern shore, linking the lakeside settlements. The lake’s catchment area covers 12 square kilometres, mostly forest and natural ground. Agriculture accounts for only 3.7 per cent of the land, and water makes up 6.8 per cent. Water flows through at an average of 0.46 cubic metres per second, renewing fully every nine months. In January the water temperature drops to 1.2 °C, while July averages 18.5 °C and can reach 26 °C in summer. From January to March the lake often freezes over. The village of Haldensee lies close to the western shore, and Haller sits at the north-eastern end. Steep slopes rise from the northern and southern shores, while the eastern and western edges are gentler. The flat shorelines provide easy access for walkers and swimmers. In summer the water is warm enough for bathing, and in winter the frozen surface attracts skaters and ice fishermen. The valley road offers views across the lake to the surrounding peaks.