Life-threatening conditions in the eastern part of the Weissensee: ‘No rescue possible’

The ‘large lake’ of the Weissensee, the eastern part, is certainly not skateable yet. In fact the ice team is warning of life-threatening conditions. Because no rescue operations can take place there.

The eastern part: the large lake of the Weissensee

De Weissensee is an Austrian mountain lake that draws thousands of skating enthusiasts every year because of its remarkable setting.

The lake is in fact a single whole, but a bridge splits it visually. Which is why people speak of the western and the eastern part.

That eastern part freezes more slowly because of its depth and size. Which is why it is called the ‘large lake’. And that is where there is now a threat to life.

Thin ice, open stretches

The ice team issues a serious warning on natureislauf.at. “The eastern part of the Weissensee is largely snowed over or frozen shut”, but: “It is still too thin and there are open stretches.”

According to the team's ice data, the ice on the large lake measures 7 cm. The ice on the western part is now 35 cm. That ‘small lake’ has been opened for everyone to skate on recreationally.

Skaters may feel tempted to try the eastern part. “Please do not go into the area”, says Bernhard Jank on behalf of the ice preparers. “You also lure unsuspecting people onto the thin ice.”

Danger to life, no entry

To put it even more plainly, the team is introducing a kind of ban on the area.

• “No entry. (…) There is an absolute risk of going through the ice – and therefore a threat to life”, Jank says. “No rescue possible.”

Weissensee ice thicknesses so far (western part)

The first look at the ice data gave an ice thickness of 6 cm . A second look at the data showed an ice thickness of 15 cm .

After that the ice grew on to 25 and 30 cm, and even to 35 cm according to today's figures.

• So the ice on the eastern part is 7 cmhere and there, with a ban on entering.