ÖSTERREICH | AUSTRIA |
Bundesland: Tirol | Tyrol |
Bezirk: Schwaz |
The Achensee is a lake north of Jenbach in Tyrol, Austria. It is the largest lake within this federal state, and has a maximal depth of 133 metres. Together with the Achental 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.
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 Achensee is managed by the Tiroler Wasserkraft AG (TIWAG), which was founded for this purpose.
Originally, the lake's only outflow was the stream Achenbach feeding the Isar river. Since 1927, when a powerplant 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 metres, accordingly the size
of the lake keeps changing. At maximum level the reservoir can store 66 million m³ of water.
[Text adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achensee]
The Hotel Scholastika [left]
was founded in 1880 and was built in place of an older toll station at a shipping pier on the northern end of the lake.
The name of the Hotel (and of the village) is derived from Saint Scholastica, the twin sister of Saint Benedict of Nursia. Scholastika is venerated especially
in the abbey of St. Georgenberg (municipality of Stans, Tyrol). The original Grand Hotel was destroyed by a large fire. Today, the remaining, renovated part
is still in use as hotel and event venue. Scholastika is part of the municipality of Achenkirch.