Zamser Bach

The Zamser Bach is a mountain stream in the Zillertal Alps of Tirol. It rises near the Pfitscher Joch at about 2 800 metres below the Stampflkees glacier under the Schrammacher. Flowing north-east through the Zamser Grund it feeds the Schlegeisspeicher reservoir after roughly 13 kilometres. Near the Gasthof Breitlahner it joins the Zemmbach from the left. Its catchment covers 70.4 square kilometres, of which 10.1 square kilometres are glacier. The highest point is the Hochfeiler at 3 509 metres. At the Neukaser gauge, just above the reservoir, the stream averages 1.14 cubic metres per second. In June the flow swells to 3.15 cubic metres per second, nearly forty times the February low of 0.08 cubic metres per second. The upper valley is a narrow trough carved by ice and water. The lower valley widens where the stream meets the reservoir. Visitors walk paths beside the clear torrent, hearing the rush of meltwater from the glacier above. The reservoir’s still blue surface contrasts with the rushing stream below. In summer the valley glows with alpine flowers and the scent of stone pine.