Green Lake: the most unusual place for diving in Europe

by Dan Bradford · December 3, 2017

Green Lake (Grüner See) is located in a village named Tragöß in Styria, Austria. It is surrounded by forests and Hochschwab Mountains.

Photo: By Herzi Pinki (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Neo_II/flickr (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

Photo: By Florian Orthaber (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 at (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/at/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

In autumn and winter it looks like a usual lake somewhere in mountains. But in spring, when the snow starts melting, this place becomes unrecognizable. The land around fills with clear water coming from the karst mountains. The lake reaches its maximum depth of around 12 m (compare with only 1-2 m in winter!). In July water starts to recede.

Photo: By Lisa Hösele (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 at (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/at/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: By Martin Toedtling (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 at (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/at/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: By TauchSport_Steininger (Flickr: 2006 – Grüner See) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

It used to be an extremely popular place for diving. Where else would you find an amazing alpine meadow on the bottom of the lake? A bridge, some benches, trees and even trails can be found underwater! Add here a luxurious grass as well! Have you ever seen this beauty?

Photo: By TauchSport_Steininger (Flickr: 2006 – Grüner See) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Unfortunately (or luckily?) all watersports activities in the lake were prohibited since 1 January 2016. It was made in order to preserve sensitive environment. But still, you can admire unforgettable nature and relax surrounded by silent forest.