Location: Germany Bavaria Füssen
Small, deep mountain lake west of Füssen, known for the red layer of bacteria in its depths and for the many legends surrounding it.
Interesting facts
- Diving in the Alatsee has been prohibited since 1983.
- Rumours of sunken gold inspired the Kluftinger crime novel "Seegrund".
- The outflow contains hydrogen sulphide, which can be smelled.
Why visit
- Quiet mountain lake in a gorge-like hollow near the Austrian border
- The natural phenomenon of the red bacterial layer
- A place steeped in legend with an eventful history
The Alatsee lies about six kilometres west of Füssen at an altitude of 868 metres, in a gorge-like hollow only around 80 metres north of the Falkenstein ridge, which marks the border with Austria. With an area of about 12 hectares it is small, but it is up to around 32 metres deep.
What makes it unusual is its structure: the lake is meromictic, meaning that its deep water layers do not mix with the surface water. At a depth of 15 to 18 metres there is a bright red layer of purple sulphur bacteria, and below it the water is almost free of oxygen. This layer is considered one of the most pronounced of its kind in any freshwater lake.
Numerous legends and rumours surround the lake, including stories of treasure sunk at the end of the Second World War. Nothing has ever been found; diving has been prohibited since 1983, except for scientific purposes. The lake lies within a landscape protection area.
History
A Celtic cult site has been documented near the lake. Gypsum was quarried in the surrounding area until the late 19th century. During the Second World War the Luftwaffe carried out aerodynamic tests in the lake using underwater models; remains of the test frames are still in the water.
Special features
A meromictic mountain lake with a red layer of purple sulphur bacteria at 15 to 18 metres and almost oxygen-free deep water. The lake is fed by groundwater and drains via the Faulenbach stream towards the Lech.
Map
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High Castle of Füssen
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St. Mang’s Abbey
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Former Benedictine abbey in Füssen's old town, rebuilt in Baroque style by Johann Jakob Herkomer – today home to the town hall, the town museum and the library.
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Sources
Image: Molgreen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
