Oeschinen Lake

Oeschinen Lake
Oeschinen Lake from Heuberg. View towards the Blüemlisalp and the Doldenhorn.
Oeschinen Lake is located in Switzerland
Oeschinen Lake
Oeschinen Lake
Oeschinen Lake is located in Canton of Bern
Oeschinen Lake
Oeschinen Lake
Oeschinen Lake is located in Alps
Oeschinen Lake
Oeschinen Lake
LocationKandersteg, canton of Bern
Coordinates46°29′54″N 07°43′37″E / 46.49833°N 7.72694°E / 46.49833; 7.72694
Typeoligotrophic, holomictic
Primary inflowsBärglibach, Wyssbach, Lägerbach, Oeschinenbach
Primary outflowsunderground
Catchment area22 km2 (8.5 sq mi)
Basin countriesSwitzerland
Surface area1.115 km2 (0.431 sq mi)
Max. depth56 m (184 ft)
Residence time588 days
Surface elevation1,578 m (5,177 ft)
Location
Map
Interactive map of Oeschinen Lake

Oeschinen Lake (German: Oeschinensee) is a mountain lake in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, located above the village of Kandersteg.[1] It lies at an elevation of 1,578 metres (5,177 ft), covers 1.115 km² (0.43 sq mi), and reaches a maximum depth of 56 metres (184 ft).[2] The lake was formed by prehistoric landslides.[1][3] Since 2007 it has formed part of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau–Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site.[4][5]

History

Large prehistoric landslides in the upper Kander valley created the natural dam between Kandersteg and Kandergrund, which impounded Oeschinen Lake.[3] Geological research attributes the deposits either to a rock avalanche from the northern flank of the Doldenhorn, or to an older rock avalanche from the Fisistock.[1]

In the 17th and 18th centuries, sulfur was mined on the Oeschinenalp.[3] With the rise of Alpinism after 1850, tourism developed in Kandersteg and the Oeschinensee valley, leading to the construction of hotels and, in 1948, a chairlift linking the village to the lake.[3]

Rockfall hazard

At the Spitzen Stein (2,974 m),[6] a rocky summit above Oeschinen Lake and Kandersteg, rockfalls have long been observed, but experts report that instability has increased in recent years, partly due to thawing permafrost linked to climate change.[7]

In May 2020, authorities closed parts of the south shore after geologists warned that large rockfalls from the Spitzen Stein could reach the lake.[8] In 2021, smaller rockfalls and ongoing warnings led to the closure of hiking trails and sectors directly below the mountain.[7]

Conditions worsened in July 2025, when prolonged rainfall accelerated movements on the slope and triggered collapses and debris-laden runoff in the Oeschibach, leading to the closure of numerous trails in the Oeschiwald area.[9] A few days later, officials reported that slope movements had slowed, but some trails in the area remained closed as a precaution.[10]

Tourism

See also: Tourism in Switzerland

Lake Oeschinen is a popular destination in the Bernese Oberland and is part of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau–Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site.[4] The lake is accessible by gondola lift from Kandersteg, and from the top station it is about a 30-minute walk to the shore.[4]

The surrounding area offers hiking trails, including routes to the Heuberg and the Fründenhütte. Trails may be closed in some seasons due to snow or rockfall.[4] In winter, when conditions allow, ice walks are created across the frozen lake.[4] Rowing boats are available for rent from May to October, and in summer the lake is also used for bathing.[4]

Transport

A gondola lift from Kandersteg leads to Oeschinen Lake.[11] The top station is 25 minutes away by foot from the lake. A bus links the valley station of the gondola lift with Kandersteg railway station.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Köpfli, Patrizia; Grämiger, Lorenz M.; Moore, Jeffrey R.; Vockenhuber, Christof; Ivy-Ochs, Susan (16 January 2018). "The Oeschinensee rock avalanche, Bernese Alps, Switzerland: a co-seismic failure 2300 years ago?". Springer Nature. pp. 205–221. doi:10.1007/s00015-017-0293-0. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Lake Oeschinen". Alplakes – Alpine Lake Observation Network. Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Dubler, Anne-Marie (26 November 2014). "Kandersteg". Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS) (in German). Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Lake Oeschinen". Switzerland Tourism. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Map of Spitzen Stein". Swiss Federal Office of Topography (swisstopo). Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Im Schatten des Spitzen Steins". Swissinfo. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  8. ^ Holzer, Christian (21 May 2020). "Beliebter Oeschinensee wegen drohendem Felsabbruch teilgesperrt". 20 Minuten (in German). Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Situation am Spitze Stei in Kandersteg hat sich verschärft". Swissinfo. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Bewegungen am Spitze Stei ob Kandersteg gehen weiter zurück". Swissinfo. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Cable Car Tickets Kandersteg – Oeschinensee". Oeschinensee. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  12. ^ "31.242 Kandersteg Bahnhof- Talstat. Oeschinen" (PDF). www.oev-info.ch. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2025.

Further reading

  • Niklaus, Markus (1967), Geomorphologische und Limnologische Untersuchungen am Oeschinensee (in German), Thun: Ott

image Lakes portal

allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oeschinensee