Wörthersee

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Wörthersee Lake Wörth
in summer
Location	west of Klagenfurt
Coordinates	46°38′N 14°09′ECoordinates: 46°38′N 14°09′E
Primary sources	Reifnitzbach, Pirkerbach
Primary outflows	Glanfurt
Catchment area	162.1 km²
Basin countries	Austria
Max length	16.5 km
Max width	2 km
Surface area	19.39 km² (7.5 mi²)
Average depth	41.9 m
Max depth	85.2 m (280 ft)
Residence time (of lake water)	10.5 years
Surface elevation	439 m
Islands	Schlangeninsel, Kapuzinerinsel
Settlements	Klagenfurt, Velden, Pörtschach

Lake Wörth (German: Wörther See, Slovenian: Vrbsko jezero) is an alpine lake in the southern Austrian province of Carinthia.

1 General facts
2 Geography
3 Transport
4 Entertainment
5 Major attractions
6 Popular leisure activities in the region
7 External links

[edit] General facts

In summer the lake is popular for swimming and water sports

The lake is of elongated shape, about 20 km long and 1-2 km wide, stretching from the Carinthian capital Klagenfurt, at its Eastern end to Velden at its Western end. It is flanked to the north and south by steep alpine foothills overgrown with dense forests, beyond which snow-capped alpine peaks are visible. The lakes' water is of a very distinctive blue-green colour and transparent.

In the early nineteenth century the marshy shores were home only to a handful of poor peasants. The building of the southern railway line, the Südbahn, in the middle of the nineteenth century quickly turned the Wörthersee into an exclusive summer retreat for Vienna's nobility.

The sunny Mediterranean climate and clean, warm water make it a popular tourist destination in summer. Although it has been termed Austria's Monte Carlo, in recent decades tourism around Lake Wörth has suffered from tough competition from package holidays to cheaper overseas destinations. As a response a number of local businesses have tried to focus on niches such as high quality tourism, family tourism or golf and horse-riding vacations.

Most tourists visit the Lake in the months of July and August when water temperatures reach 25°C. A large proportion of visitors return every summer and some own or rent holiday homes along the shore. The vast majority of visitors come from Vienna, northern Germany and the Netherlands.

The lake attracts a rather diverse crowd during the short summer season. On weekends, yuppies, rich kids, semi-celebrities, and other socialites from Vienna mingle with Klagenfurt's youth in the handful of stylish and overpriced bars/clubs in Velden and Pörtschach. As soon as the sun rises, however, the streets are taken over by hordes of pensioners and budget tourists who board the lake cruises and buy souvenirs at the numerous kitsch shops. At the same time, respectable upper-middle class families eagerly head for the water for their early morning swim before disappearing into the golf courses or five star restaurants where they may bump into the super-rich.

The northern shore is densely built-up and bustling with activity in summer. Amongst shops, bars, hotels, and holiday homes major traffic arteries (motorway and railway mainline) occupy the narrow space between the steep hills and the shore. Main towns are Krumpendorf, Pörtschach and Velden Property prices along the waterfront, which is almost totally inaccessible to the non-paying public (apart from a number of public beaches), are among the highest in Europe. The lake itself is a perfect place for swimming and beach activities, though most visitors pursue other outdoor sports in the surrounding region. The chronic lack of wind makes sunbathing a pleasant experience, but any serious sailing a virtual impossibility.

The southern shore is a lot quieter and less developed. A number of German millionaires have decided to build their mansions along here. The historic town of Maria Wörth is probably one of the prettiest places on the lake. Much of the southern shore is however tainted by the unsightly and noisy motorway cutting through the hills on the opposite side of the lake. Originally planned in a less populated valley 20 km to the south, local authorities lobbied for the building of the motorway as near to the lake as possible in the 70s, a blunder regretted by locals and tourists today.

In winter, the region is often under a cover of snow and in state of deep hibernation as there are no ski resorts nearby. Every 10 years or so Lake Wörth freezes over and becomes crowded with ice-skaters.

[edit] Geography

In winter the lake sometimes freezes over

Lake Wörth and its basin in the central Carinthian foothills were largely formed by glaciers during the last ice age. It is Carinthia's largest lake. The lake is divided into three basins by islands and peninsulas. The western basin stretches from Velden to Pörtschach, the central basin from Pörtschach to Maria Wörth and the eastern basin from Maria Wörth to Klagenfurt. The lake's distributary is the Glanfurt, eventually flowing into the Drava river via the Glan and Gurk rivers.

The lake's name originates from its islands (Schlangeninsel and Kapuzinerinsel; the former islands Maria Wörth and Maria Loretto are now peninsulas). Until the 19th century the lake was called "Werdersee", or island lake.

Lake Wörth's fauna is dominated by fish typically found in alpine lakes. The most common species are the pike (Esox lucius) and the common whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus).

[edit] Transport

Lake Wörth can be reached from abroad by plane, train, or motorway. All major towns on the north shore are served by international trains. The nearest airport is Klagenfurt Airport. There is a cycle path along the north shore. In summer, passenger boats connect the largest settlements. The number of private speedboats is strictly limited by a quota system to limit the environmental damage and hazard to swimmers.

[edit] Entertainment

[edit] Major attractions

Casino Velden: run by Casinos Austria, the Austrian government gambling monopoly
Burgruine Finkenstein: Scenic castle ruin staging outdoor plays and concerts
Minimundus: Miniature theme park
Strandbad Pörtschach: An attractive public beach
Schlosshotel Velden: An castle-like hotel, famous landmark
Villa Mahler: the former summer home of composer Gustav Mahler