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Weissensee (lake)
Encyclopedia
The Weissensee is a bathing lake in the Austria
n state of Carinthia
within the Gailtal Alps
. It shares its name with the municipality of Weissensee
on its northern and southern shore.
Despite its elevation of 930 metres (3051 ft), the waters can reach 24 degrees Celsius in the summer months, while in winter the water freezes over completely and allows skaters to move freely on the ice. Due to its steep shore, the eastern part of the lake is almost uninhabitated. At the eastern end the area of the Stockenboi
municipality reaches the lake. Here the Weißenbach brook runs towards the Drava
river. Along the shore are banks of chalk
originating from the surrounding limestone
mountains, which give the waters its characteristic colour and the Weissensee ("White Lake") its name.
About two thirds of the lake's surface are part of a protected area
. Except for public transport, the operation of motor boats is prohibited. The waters of the lake reach drinking water quality. The area is full of wildlife. It contains many different types of fish, especially trout
, common carp
, perch
and northern pike
. Also, there are many different birds, ranging from ducks to geese and herons.
Since 1989, in winter the lake is the site of the Dutch
Alternatieve Elfstedentocht
speed skating
competition. Beside skating, ice stock sport
and cross-country skiing
around the Weissensee is quite popular. A smaller alpine skiing
area is situated at the southern shore. In February 2007 the first underwater ice hockey
world championship was held at the lake.
A prominent rock at the northern shore, Ronacherfels, is named after a skater that died on the lake. Taking a shortcut home, he skated over a thin patch of ice, fell in and died. His body was never found. In honour of his memory, the rock and a nearby restaurant were named after him.
Parts of the 1987 James Bond
film "The Living Daylights
" were shot at the frozen Weissensee.
B87 Weißensee Straße running from Greifenburg
over the Kreuzbergsattel
mountain pass to Hermagor-Pressegger See
. A smaller mountain road runs from the Drava valley and Stockenboi to the eastern end. Ship transport on the lake is provided by four vessels.
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...
n state of Carinthia
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
within the Gailtal Alps
Southern Limestone Alps
The Southern Limestone Alps are the ranges of the Eastern Alps south of the Central Eastern Alps mainly located in northern Italy and the adjacent lands of Austria and Slovenia. The distinction from the Central Alps, where the higher peaks are located, is based on differences in geological...
. It shares its name with the municipality of Weissensee
Weissensee, Austria
Weissensee is a resort town within the Southern Limestone Alps on the shore of the Lake Weissensee in Carinthia, in south central Austria.- History :In the centre of the town is a bridge crossing over the lake, first mentioned in a deed dated 1348....
on its northern and southern shore.
Despite its elevation of 930 metres (3051 ft), the waters can reach 24 degrees Celsius in the summer months, while in winter the water freezes over completely and allows skaters to move freely on the ice. Due to its steep shore, the eastern part of the lake is almost uninhabitated. At the eastern end the area of the Stockenboi
Stockenboi
Stockenboi is a municipality in the district of Villach-Land in the Austrian state of Carinthia, situated in a valley of the Gailtal Alps between the Drava river and the Weissensee. It consists of the Katastralgemeinden Stockenboi, Tragail, Wiederschwing and Ziebl....
municipality reaches the lake. Here the Weißenbach brook runs towards the Drava
Drava
Drava or Drave is a river in southern Central Europe, a tributary of the Danube. It sources in Toblach/Dobbiaco, Italy, and flows east through East Tirol and Carinthia in Austria, into Slovenia , and then southeast, passing through Croatia and forming most of the border between Croatia and...
river. Along the shore are banks of chalk
Chalk
Chalk is a soft, white, porous sedimentary rock, a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite. Calcite is calcium carbonate or CaCO3. It forms under reasonably deep marine conditions from the gradual accumulation of minute calcite plates shed from micro-organisms called coccolithophores....
originating from the surrounding limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
mountains, which give the waters its characteristic colour and the Weissensee ("White Lake") its name.
About two thirds of the lake's surface are part of a protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
. Except for public transport, the operation of motor boats is prohibited. The waters of the lake reach drinking water quality. The area is full of wildlife. It contains many different types of fish, especially 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...
, common carp
Common carp
The Common carp is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia. The wild populations are considered vulnerable to extinction, but the species has also been domesticated and introduced into environments worldwide, and is often considered an invasive...
, perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
and northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
. Also, there are many different birds, ranging from ducks to geese and herons.
Since 1989, in winter the lake is the site of the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Alternatieve Elfstedentocht
Elfstedentocht
The Elfstedentocht is the world's largest and longest speed skating competition and leisure skating tour, and is held irregularly in the province of Friesland, Netherlands.The tour, almost 200 km in length, is conducted on frozen canals, rivers and lakes between the eleven historic...
speed skating
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
competition. Beside skating, ice stock sport
Ice stock sport
Ice stock sport is a winter sport, somewhat similar to curling. In German, it is known as Eisstockschießen. Competitors slide ice stocks over an ice surface, aiming for a target, or to cover the longest distance. Ice stocks have a gliding surface, to which a stick is attached...
and cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
around the Weissensee is quite popular. A smaller alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
area is situated at the southern shore. In February 2007 the first underwater ice hockey
Underwater ice hockey
Underwater ice hockey is a minor extreme sport that is a variant of ice hockey. It is played upside-down underneath frozen pools or ponds. Participants wear wetsuits and flippers, and use the underside of the frozen surface as the playing area for a floating puck...
world championship was held at the lake.
A prominent rock at the northern shore, Ronacherfels, is named after a skater that died on the lake. Taking a shortcut home, he skated over a thin patch of ice, fell in and died. His body was never found. In honour of his memory, the rock and a nearby restaurant were named after him.
Parts of the 1987 James Bond
James Bond (character)
Royal Navy Commander James Bond, CMG, RNVR is a fictional character created by journalist and novelist Ian Fleming in 1953. He is the main protagonist of the James Bond series of novels, films, comics and video games...
film "The Living Daylights
The Living Daylights
The Living Daylights is the fifteenth entry in the James Bond series and the first to star Timothy Dalton as the fictional MI6 agent 007. The film's title is taken from Ian Fleming's short story, "The Living Daylights"...
" were shot at the frozen Weissensee.
Transportation
The settlements at the western shore of the Weissensee can be reached via the BundesstraßeBundesstraße
Bundesstraße , abbreviated B, is the denotation for German and Austrian national highways.-Germany:...
B87 Weißensee Straße running from Greifenburg
Greifenburg
Greifenburg is a market town in the district of Spittal an der Drau in the Austrian state of Carinthia. It is situated in the Drava valley on the southern slope of the Kreuzeck mountain range...
over the Kreuzbergsattel
Kreuzbergsattel
Kreuzbergsattel is a high mountain pass in the Austrian Alps in the Bundesland of Carinthia.It connects Greifenburg and Hermagor and lies west of the Weissensee.-See also:* List of highest paved roads in Europe* List of mountain passes...
mountain pass to Hermagor-Pressegger See
Hermagor-Pressegger See
Hermagor-Pressegger See is the administrative centre of the Hermagor district in the Austrian state of Carinthia. The town is named after Saint Hermagoras, the first bishop of Aquileia.-Location:...
. A smaller mountain road runs from the Drava valley and Stockenboi to the eastern end. Ship transport on the lake is provided by four vessels.