Dösener See

The Dösener See is an alpine lake high in the High Tauern National Park in Carinthia. It sits at 2,270 metres above the Adriatic in the Ankogel Group of the Central Eastern Alps. The lake marks the start of the narrow Dösen Valley, which stretches about seven kilometres up from Mallnitz. With a surface area of 0.13 square kilometres, it is the largest cirque lake in the national park. The lake remains cold even in summer, with surface temperatures never exceeding seven degrees Celsius. The lake is covered by ice for up to three-quarters of the year. Its water transparency reaches about twelve metres, making it unusually clear for such a high-altitude body of water. Arctic char and plankton species like rotifer and green algae live in the lake’s cold waters. Nearby, a large rock glacier extends east of the lake, with permafrost reaching depths of up to forty metres. The Arthur-von-Schmid-Haus, an Alpine club hut built in 1910–11, stands on the western shore. Visitors find a remote mountain setting with rugged peaks and steep slopes around the lake. The Arthur-von-Schmid-Haus provides a base for hikers heading to summits like the Hochalmspitze and the Reisseck massif. Trails lead from the hut across the high terrain, offering views of the surrounding glaciers and rock formations. The lake’s icy waters and clear depths contrast with the harsh alpine environment. The silence and isolation make it a striking place for those who reach it.