Blausee

Deep blue color, numerous trout

The Blue Lake is, despite its small size of 0.64 ha one of the most famous mountain lakes of Switzerland. He is a popular excursion destination in the Bernese Oberland. He is close Mitholz on the territory of the municipality Kander reason.

Location

The Blue Lake is located at 887 m above sea level. M. in the Kander valley south of the village of Kandersteg ground next to the river Kander. To get there take the train stations of Frutigen or Kandersteg, one of which is a bus to Blue Lake. For cars there are large parking available.

History

The Blue Lake was created over 15,000 years ago by a rock fall, in the ruins of the lake is today. As the Zurich merchant Johann Leeman - Boller roamed as a tourist, the Kander Valley, he came across the area around the Blue Lake. In 1878 he bought land and sea from the Frutiger host Johann rich - Bhend. With the opening up of the valley through the Lötschberg railway and the expansion of the road the entire region experienced a boom. The tourism increased sharply and the Blue Lake quickly became a popular attraction for tourists. A hotel was built and set up a fish farm. Hotel and restaurant are open in winter. In a small exhibition, the history of Blue Lake is shown.

Karl Baedeker wrote in 1869 in his guidebook, Switzerland: " ... a little hidden right in the pine forest of the little blue lake, strange is by its deep blue color. " In 1885 he wrote in a new edition: " ... does not lead a way to the blue lake ( to miss! ), remarkable for its blue color play and its picturesque forested with fir trees and rocks around. " Johann Jakob von Tschudi mentions 1885 blue Lake as" agricultural treasure of magical forest solitude "and the cozy little guesthouse.

Lake

The Blue Lake is situated in a 20 acre wooded nature park with walking trails, picnic areas and fireplaces. Because the lake is fed by underground springs, the water is crystal clear. The lying up to 12 meters underwater tree trunks and rocks seem to lie just below the surface.

Since the water long-wave (red ) light strongly absorbed than short-wavelength (blue ) light, it appears deep blue and blue-green. According to a legend comes the blue color of the blue eyes of a young girl who went from grief over the death of her lover into the water. Since then wear the sea in memory of the unfortunate, the blue color. At the saga reminds the lying in the lake sculpture of smooth fields artist Raphael Fuchs from the year 1998.

Special

Next to the hotel an organic trout farm is set up. The trout are delivered to restaurants across the Kander and can be purchased at the park entrance in a store. The grounds are fenced in summer admission is charged.

Gallery

The lake nestled in the woods

The restaurant at the lake

Trout in the lake

The lake in Winter