Wägitalersee is a
reservoir
A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation.
Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...
lake in the
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
of
Innerthal
Innerthal is a municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in March District in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland.
History
Innerthal is first mentioned in 1259 as ''Wegental''. Until 1888 it was known as ''Hinterwäggithal''.
Geography
Inn ...
in the
canton of Schwyz
The canton of Schwyz ( ; ; ; ) is a Cantons of Switzerland, canton in central Switzerland between the Swiss Alps, Alps in the south, Lake Lucerne to the west and Lake Zürich in the north, centred on and named after the town of Schwyz.
It is one ...
,
Switzerland
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
. It is situated in the ''Wägital'' (). Its outflow is the Wägitaler Aa, which drains into Obersee (Lake Zurich), Upper Lake Zurich at Lachen, Schwyz, Lachen. It is surrounded by the mountains Gross Aubrig, Fluebrig, Zindlenspitz, Brünnelistock and Bockmattli.
The old village of Innerthal was flooded in 1924 when the dam ''Schräh'' was constructed. A new village was built on the current lake.
Economy
The primary economical purpose of the Wägitalersee is to serve as
reservoir
A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation.
Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...
for pumped-storage hydroelectricity. The power plant and the reservoir dam became operational in 1924, thereby creating the Wägitalersee. At the time, the dam was the tallest in the world at 366 feet having surpassed Arrowrock Dam located in Idaho, USA. The power plant is operated by NOK Wägital / AG Kraftwerk Wägital and produces approximately 120 million kWh of energy per year.
Besides the above industrial purpose, the lake is very popular as a (nearby) recreational area for families, hikers, nature lovers and especially fishermen. The waterside is easily accessible on foot and also by car (in certain areas). It can also be reached by a PostBus Switzerland route from station.
See also
*List of lakes of Switzerland
*List of mountain lakes of Switzerland
References
External links
Powerplant Operator: NOK Wägital / AG Kraftwerk WägitalWägitalersee fishing and boat rental homepage*
Lakes of the canton of Schwyz
Reservoirs in Switzerland
Linth/Limmat basin, LWagitalersee
{{Schwyz-lake-stub