Description of the attraction
Lake Zeller is a freshwater lake in the Austrian Alps. It is located in the federal state of Salzburg. Perhaps the most popular resort in the region - Zell am See, which is located in a small delta of a river flowing into a lake, got its name.
The lake, which is located at an altitude of 750 meters, appeared as a result of the descent of a glacier more than 16 thousand years ago. In those days, the area of its water surface was much larger than today. The water level in the reservoir dropped by 50 meters 10 thousand years ago. Since then, neither the size nor the depth of the lake has changed significantly. The elongated lake, reaching a length of 3.8 km, is surrounded by mountains. Tourist routes are laid along their slopes.
The maximum depth of Lake Zeller is 68 meters. In summer, many mountain streams and rivulets flow into this reservoir, the largest of which are Schmittenbach and Thumersbach. Only one canal, two kilometers long, leaves the lake, from which water flows into the Salzach River.
In winter, the lake freezes completely and is used as a playground for winter sports. Vacationers here go ice skating or fish in the ice hole. Several species of fish are found here. In summer, boating on the lake. Ferries run only between Zell am See and Thumersbach. The water in the lake is very clean and suitable for swimming and diving, although it does not get very hot. The southern part of Lake Zeller is shallow. Its surface is covered with aquatic plants, so there is no swimming or boating. The southern sector of the lake was chosen by birds. There you can see cormorants, wild ducks, gray herons, mallards, swans, lapwings, waders and many other birds.
