Grüner See (Styria)
Encyclopedia
Grüner See is a lake
in Styria, Austria
near the town of Tragöß
. The lake is surrounded by the Hochschwab
mountains and forests. The name “Green Lake” originated because of its emerald green water. The clean and clear water comes from the snowmelt
from the karst
mountains and has a temperature of 6-8°C (42.8-46.4°F). During the winter, the lake is only 1–2 m deep and the surrounding area is used as a county park. However, during the spring, when the temperature rises and the water melts the basin of land below the mountains fill with water. The lake reaches its maximum depth of around 12 m from mid-May to June and is claimed to look the most beautiful at this time. In July, the water begins to recede.
The lake supports a variety of fauna such as snails, water flea
s (Daphnia pulex
), small crabs, fly larvae
, and different species of trout
(Salmo
). The flora is not abundant because of the rocky bottom of the lake. Furthermore, the lake’s depth is variable since its inflow
comes from snowmelt.
The lake is popular among diver
s who can observe the green meadows in the edge zone of the lake particularly in June when the water is at its highest. A bridge and a bench can also be found underwater.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Styria, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
near the town of Tragöß
Tragöß
Tragöß is a municipality in the district of Bruck an der Mur in Styria, Austria. It is home to Green Lake , which dries out almost completely in the autumn. In the spring the lake is filled with snow melt runoff. This gives the lake crystal clear water, the existing rocks and meadow give the lake...
. The lake is surrounded by the Hochschwab
Hochschwab
The Hochschwab is a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps of Austria....
mountains and forests. The name “Green Lake” originated because of its emerald green water. The clean and clear water comes from the snowmelt
Snowmelt
In hydrology, snowmelt is surface runoff produced from melting snow. It can also be used to describe the period or season during which such runoff is produced. Water produced by snowmelt is an important part of the annual water cycle in many parts of the world, in some cases contributing high...
from the karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
mountains and has a temperature of 6-8°C (42.8-46.4°F). During the winter, the lake is only 1–2 m deep and the surrounding area is used as a county park. However, during the spring, when the temperature rises and the water melts the basin of land below the mountains fill with water. The lake reaches its maximum depth of around 12 m from mid-May to June and is claimed to look the most beautiful at this time. In July, the water begins to recede.
The lake supports a variety of fauna such as snails, water flea
Cladocera
Cladocera is an order of small crustaceans commonly called water fleas. Around 620 species have been recognised so far, with many more undescribed. They are ubiquitous in inland aquatic habitats, but rare in the oceans. Most are long, with a down-turned head, and a carapace covering the apparently...
s (Daphnia pulex
Daphnia pulex
Daphnia pulex is the most common species of water flea. It has a cosmopolitan distribution: the species is found throughout the Americas, Europe and Australia. It is a model species, and was the first crustacean to have its genome sequenced.-Description:...
), small crabs, fly larvae
Maggot
In everyday speech the word maggot means the larva of a fly ; it is applied in particular to the larvae of Brachyceran flies, such as houseflies, cheese flies, and blowflies, rather than larvae of the Nematocera, such as mosquitoes and Crane flies...
, and different species of trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
(Salmo
Salmo
Salmo is a genus of fish in the salmon family that includes the familiar species Atlantic salmon and brown trout . The natural distribution of the genus is chiefly European. Only the range of the Atlantic salmon extends to northern North America...
). The flora is not abundant because of the rocky bottom of the lake. Furthermore, the lake’s depth is variable since its inflow
Inflow (hydrology)
In hydrology, the inflow of a body of water is the source of the water in the body of water. It can also refer to the average volume of incoming water in unit time. It is contrasted with outflow....
comes from snowmelt.
The lake is popular among diver
Underwater diving
Underwater diving is the practice of going underwater, either with breathing apparatus or by breath-holding .Recreational diving is a popular activity...
s who can observe the green meadows in the edge zone of the lake particularly in June when the water is at its highest. A bridge and a bench can also be found underwater.
Literature
- Bretschko, G. (1966) Der Grüne See bei Tragöß, Steiermark. Ein Beitrag zur Karstlimnologie. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie und Hydrographie, 51(5):699–726.