Weissensee

Weissensee in Carinthia lies at 930 m above sea level and is promoted as the highest-lying bathing lake in Europe. It is up to 99 m deep and has about 23 km of shoreline, which is largely undeveloped. The tourist region emphasises the water quality, and in places visibility is said to reach a depth of around 40 m. Since 2006 the area has been protected as the Weissensee Nature Park, covering 7,640 hectares in the eastern Gailtal Alps. Motorboats are banned, and more than 200 km of waymarked trails lead through the surroundings. Passenger boats operate on the lake, including a hybrid vessel.

The region promotes car-free holidays, with hiking buses, boats and bike hire. Walk part of the lakeside path and you stay flexible. In high summer car parks can fill up, so it is best to arrive early. In winter, from mid-December to early March, the lake becomes what the region describes as Europe's largest natural ice rink, at around 6.5 km².