| Oeschinen Lake | |||||
| Coords: | 46.4983°N 7.7269°W | ||||
| Inflow: | Bärglibach, Wyssbach, Lägerbach, Oeschinenbach | ||||
| Outflow: | underground | ||||
| Catchment: | 22km2 | ||||
| Basin Countries: | Switzerland | ||||
| Length: | 1.6km (01miles) | ||||
| Width: | 1km (01miles) | ||||
| Area: | 1.1147km2 | ||||
| Depth: | 34m (112feet) | ||||
| Max-Depth: | 56m (184feet) | ||||
| Residence Time: | 1.61 years | ||||
| Elevation: | 1578m (5,177feet) | ||||
| Frozen: | December to May | ||||
| Pushpin Map: | Canton of Bern#Canton of Valais#Switzerland#Alps | ||||
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Oeschinen Lake (German: Oeschinensee) is a lake in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, 4km (02miles) east of Kandersteg in the Oeschinen valley. At an elevation of 1578m (5,177feet), it has a surface area of 1.1147km2. Its maximum depth is 56m (184feet).
The lake was created by a giant landslide and is fed through a series of mountain creeks and drains underground. The water then resurfaces as the Oeschibach. Part of it is captured for electricity production and as a water supply for Kandersteg.
In observations from 1931 to 1965, the elevation of the lake surface varied between 1566.09m (5,138.09feet) and 1581.9m (5,190feet). The average seasonal variation was 12.2m (40feet) (September/April).
The lake is generally frozen for five months, from December to May. From time to time ice skating is possible on the ice.
Fish in the lake include Arctic char (Seesaibling), lake trout (Kanadische Seeforelle), and rainbow trout (Regenbogenforelle). From January to March, ice fishing is popular.
A gondola lift from Kandersteg leads to Oeschinen, 25 minutes by foot from the lake.
Since 2007 the lake has been part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As of summer 2021, a circumnavigation of Lake Oeschinen is not possible. The reason for this is the danger of an imminent rockfall on the south shore, which is why paths are closed there.[1]