Achen Lake
| Achen Lake | |
|---|---|
in autumn
|
|
| Location | Tyrol |
| Coordinates | 47°26′N 11°43′E / 47.433°N 11.717°ECoordinates: 47°26′N 11°43′E / 47.433°N 11.717°E |
| Primary inflows | Buchauer Bach, Dalfazer Bach, Wankratz Bach |
| Primary outflows | Achen Bach |
| Basin countries | Austria |
| Max. length | 9.4 km (5.8 mi) |
| Max. width | 1 km (0.62 mi) |
| Surface area | 6.8 km2 (2.6 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 133 m (436 ft) |
| Water volume | 0.481 km3 (0.115 cu mi) |
| Surface elevation | 929 m (3,048 ft) |
Lake Achen (German: Achensee) is a lake north of Jenbach in Tyrol, Austria. It is the largest lake within the federal state, and has a maximal depth of 133 metres. Together with the Achen Valley it parts the Karwendel mountain range in the west from the Brandenberg Alps in the east.
Water quality is near drinking water, with sight up to 10 m below the surface. An alpine lake, water temperature is accordingly low, rarely above 20 °C. Its size and wind conditions make it suitable for windsurfing.
Eben am Achensee, Achenkirch, and Pertisau are municipalities on the lake.
The city of Innsbruck bought the lake in 1919 from the St. Georgenberg-Fiecht Abbey, who had received it from the rulers of Schlitters around 1120.
Since 1924, the lake is managed by the Tiroler Wasserkraft AG (TIWAG), which was founded for this purpose.
Originally, its only outflow was the Achenbach, feeding the Isar. Since 1927, when a power plant in Jenbach was finished, it primarily feeds the Inn, at a level difference of 380 m below. Eight pelton wheels at 500 RPM produce a total of 96 MW.
In winter, the level of the lake is lowered by up to 6 meters; accordingly the size of the lake keeps changing. At maximum level, the reservoir can store 66 million m³ of water.
When the Unterinntalbahn railway was finished in 1859, tourism started to flourish. In order to make the abbey profit, the first steamboat St. Josef was acquired in 1887. Furthermore the construction of the 7 km long Achenseebahn narrow gauge rack railway was initiated, which went into service in 1889 between Jenbach and Seespitz. The same year, on July 21 a second steamboat, the St. Benedikt went into service. In 1890 the two boats with a capacity of 320 seats transported about 30,000 persons.
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Wikipedia