This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure here.
The Beautiful Emerald Lake Of Southern Austria
Grüner See, meaning Green Lake, is a lake in Styria, Austria. Styria is home to the amazing and unique emerald lake. Styria is well known as a mountainous, forested state in the south of Austria, with great wine, spas and castles.
The emerald lake paradise is a definite must-see if you are ever in Austria late-spring or early summer.
The name Grüner See was given to the lake due to its’ emerald coloured green water from the grass and leafage beneath.
When Is The Best Time To See The Emerald Lake?
During the winter months, the emerald lake is shallow at approximately 1-2 meters deep (3–7 ft).
As Springtime rolls around, the snow melts and fills the surrounding park and lake with water, taking it to a depth of about 12 meters (40 feet)!
Park benches, a park bridge and the rocky bottom of the green lake is visible underwater. If you look closely enough, you can even see the park trails!
Over the years, the trees in the park have adapted to being underwater. It is a stunning experience!
The water recedes mid-year in July, so the best time to see the emerald lake in its beauty is either in May or in June.
What Does The Lake Look Like Under Water?
The park is surrounded by pine forest and high mountains with a great path for a stroll around the lake.
The gorgeous scenery makes the green lake a popular site among locals, tourists and divers.
Sadly, in January 2016, the local government of Tragoess, Styria where the park is located, decided to prohibit the use of the emerald lake to due the large rise in tourist visits, the only way to preserve the environment and possible damage to the area.
Sure pictures of the emerald lake are nice to see, however, they don’t seem to do it justice. The beauty of the emerald lake is underwater. Unfortunately, I have not been able to go underwater to see it yet. Above water is great, but I want to share with you this video of the emerald lake made by Sandy and his team.
It is awesome!
If you are at work or in class and don’t want to get caught press mute to turn off the music before starting this video.
Enjoy this very unique scenario!
Isn’t this amazing? Another amazing place mother nature has created.
Have you heard about Grüner See or The Emerald Lake of Austria? Do you know of any underground parks elsewhere in the world?
Please share with me in the comments section below.
57 comments
Oh wow the pictures just describe all. It must be very nice place to be visit. I love nature things. I wish I could travel more to see the world that I’ve never seen before. What a great post!
This looks incredible. I wanna go one day!
Alisha
I heard about Styria but never got a chance to see any photos. The lake looks truly magnificent. It is a true gem.
This is an amazing place and such beautiful photos you took! You seem to have had a lovely experience. I never scuba dived in a lake before, is it so different from scuba diving in the ocean?
I’ll try again! My last comments disappeared! I just wanted to say that having seen your stunning photos, this is a place that I must visit, the lush greenery and beautiful lakes are so peaceful and serene, and I bet you have a relaxing time when you visited there! What a wonderful post and place, thanks, Karen
Wow! What an amazing place and your photos are just drop dead gorgeous too! I’ve never been to that part of Austria but I may have to remedy that soon, as it has that lovely green and lush scenery with lakes and mountains that I love so much! A wonderful post, Karen
I really like the scenery in photos. I became want to make a home and stay there. but I also do not want to leave Bali. hehehehehhe … in Bali is also a beautiful place.
I really like the mountain views. if I go to a place like that, my feelings be happy
The photos look so real and beautiful. They make me want to touch those trees, mountain and water. Anyway, Styria looks really great for a good camp out , a jog and probably a hiking. I probably would want to visit there just to think and reflect.
This place is amazing. It is so good that you brought up this place for us to see something other than Vienna.
Cant stop marveling at the pictures you’ve captured of the lake. I could spend days out there camping by myself
I cannot believe that this is real. The place has such an ethereal and dreamlike appearance. I was mesmerized by the stunning pictures.
This lake looks absolutely amazing! That emerald color is great! And I loved the video, it’s pretty sad that you cannot experience it now.
My brother went to Vienna last year and he bought me guitar from there. Austria is in my bucket list and I would love to visit someday. Thanks for sharing this post with us. I loved your pictures!
That is completely beautiful! I’ve never seen a green lake before. It actually reminds me of a sacred lake I went to in the Japanese mountains–but that wasn’t green, just very clean and sparkly. I’m sad I cannot go here when I am in Austria at the end of July.
This is gorgeous! I have never heard of it before. My mom went to Austria when she was younger. I am going to have to ask her about it!
To be honest haven’t heard of Gruener See but your photos look amazing. I totally understand though why they had to protect and preserve the area. Hoping though they think of a way to still introduce and hype this area up in a different way
That picture on the top is amazing. I love it. Kind of resembles an extremely beautiful landscape painting.
I’ve been to Austria once. I will most likely go back to see this lake.
Wow, how absolutely stunning. It’s so breathtaking, that it is almost hard to believe that it is real.
Viewing mother nature adn all her beauty really is an amazing thing. I find so much wonder in it.
What beauty! I had a pen pal from Austria. I always thought it would be a cool place to visit.
Grüner See looks ethereal and magical — I could totally imagine fey living there. I’m glad they closed access to protect but I also wish I could visit!
It really is amazing! It’s so humbling to see some of the beautiful sights that Mother Nature has created. I hope that more people learn to appreciate them and care for them in the years to come.
WOW! What a beautiful place. I have never been there (never even heard of it) but I would love to go. It looks so peaceful.
I had not heard of this place before. But its absolutely stunning. the more I read your posts, the more i realise that there are so many hidden treasures of the world that probably does not feature prominently on the map but are places one must visit in their lifetime.
I’ve never heard about Grüner See, but it’s no doubt the lake and the environment are stunning. It’s good to know Austria is not only about beautiful cities but also the great nature lies there. Would love to visit Austria one day.
Wow! I have never heard of this place! But, it is amazing looking, like a fairy tale land!
I’ve never heard of this place but it seems magic. The photos are amazing! It makes me thing to the Enchantered forest, and there are so many incredible places! The first photo s just incredible and you picked the right place!
OMG this is a perfect wallpaper! Such a beautiful lake.. it is good that there is no pollutants.
I read about this park before and even now it still amazes me. It’s sad that the green lake is now closed off the tourists. I hope that sometime in the future it will be re-opened.
This is absolutely stunning. These pictures make me want to pack a bag. Absolutely amazing!
I’ve never heard of this place before. It’s absolutely breath taking. And I agree, it’s one thing to see it in pictures, but it would be amazing to see it in person. Maybe one day tourists will be able to enjoy it first hand again. At least there’s a video where we can enjoy it more than just photos.
Amazing photos. Isn’t nature amazing sometimes? There so many wonders of nature in bucket list I think I won’t finish em
What a gorgeous lake. I wonder why the depth changes so much..is it the runoff from the mountains? That green color is amazing.
This looks so beautiful! I want to go hop on a plan right now!
What amazing photos – and although gorgeous I bet they dont even do this lake justice! I would LOVE to check this out in person and see how tranquil and amazing it is. Looks like you had an amazing trip!
Karen
Wow this is great. I love to find hidden gems in places I’m visiting. I will definitely take a look when we drive by next fall
That lake looks amazing. I have never seen a lake like that before, but I would love to visit someday!
I’ve never heard of this lake before, but it looks so majestic! I love all the colors that pop against that blue water! I’ve never been to Austria, but adding it to my list ASAP! 🙂
This is new to me, our world is a fascinating place. I loved the video. It really helped me understand how beautiful the See is!
I have heard about this lake before and I really want to visit it. I think it’s an amazing idea that you can dive and see the “summer remains” when the water goes back up. I bet it’s also a wonderful walk in a hot summer day. Love the reflections.
This is a beautiful place. I heard so much about Austria but this is the first time I stumble upon this lake. I love looking at your pictures because it kinda relaxes me.
Sheri, it is so beautiful! Those are absolute stunning photos you used too. And if I were there, yeah, I’d like to dive and take a look too being a former dive pro. 🙂
That is beautiful story, I love scuba diving maybe I will go there one day, it is only 150 miles from my house. color of water is outstanding. Is there any fish in lake?
Jose – didn’t you watch the video? There were fish to see in there. LOL
Wow. I never heard of this lake. The video was so interesting to watch.
Oh wow! I have seen this before because of its underwater beauty. That would have been astonishing to see in real life. Though it’s sad that the authorities closed the lake, it’s also an important step to preserve the beauty of nature for the next generations to come.
It’s sooooo beautiful! Good thing there’s a video so the tourist who weren’t able to visit the place can see how magical it is. It’s like a forest in an aquarium. I can’t believe this place existed!
Exactly Charm! It really is like a forest in a life-size aquarium. Absolutely stunning.
Oh my! Such an interesting and amazing place! How I wish I could have the chance to travel in a beautiful place like Austria. The underwater adventure is much more amazing. The world is really blessed with beautiful and fascinating nature.
This is amazing. Incredibly beautiful. I would to go to Styria once. Not only to see the lake but also the rest of the environment. I’ve been to Austria twice now. To Vienna and Gerlos. I loved making long walks in Gerlos (I was there in the summer)
It’s a pity the use of this lake had to be prohibited. But it’s also important to preserve this area. Loved the video. It’s so impressive.
This is why I LOVE scuba diving. Above the water is beautiful, and below is completely different world!
New to me, but it is just gorgeous. I need to get myself back to Austria.
OMG. This is the one I saw circulating on Facebook. It was only a photo so i didn’t know the name. I thought it was a hoax but it there! it’s real! wow! Just wow
Hi Jason! Oh you saw this on Facebook. It is very real and beautiful. Many people find it very unreal but it has been here for years and years. Maybe a secret too well kept? I am glad you got to read about it and watch the video here.
Amazing indeed! This reminded me of a river in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse village in France which we had been only last week. The river looks emerald green bacause of the vast green plants growing underneath. We would love to visit this green lake in Austria its beautiful 🙂
I heard about Grüner See and I wanted to go there so much, but now I can see I’m bit late. It’s a pity you haven’t got a chance to see its underwater world but I can see you had got a wonderful trip. And I must say I love Syrian wine!
You are right, the wine is Steiermark is delicious!