Funtensee

Funtensee is a karst lake on the Steinernes Meer plateau in Berchtesgaden National Park, Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the larger of two sinkholes (also referred to as uvala).[1] The area is known for record low temperatures, up to 30 °C (54 °F) lower than the surrounding area.[2] Its primary inflows are the Steingraben, Stuhlgraben and Rennergraben streams.[1]

Funtensee
Funtensee
LocationBerchtesgaden National Park, Bavaria
Coordinates47°29′37″N 12°56′21″E
TypeKarst lake
Primary inflowsStuhlgraben, Rennergraben
Primary outflowsTeufelsmühle (subterrean)
Catchment areaca. 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi)
Basin countriesGermany
Max. length233 m (764 ft)
Max. width152 m (499 ft)
Surface area3.5 ha (8.6 acres)
Average depth2.50 to 3 m (8.2 to 9.8 ft)
Max. depth5.30 m (17.4 ft)
Water volume100,000 m3 (3,500,000 cu ft)
Shore length10.78 km (0.48 mi)
Surface elevation1,601 m (5,253 ft)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Location
North shore with Kärlingerhaus

The lake lies at an elevation of 1601 m and has a surface area is 3.5 ha. Its outflow toward the Schrainbach is subterranean at a location called Teufelsmühle. On its shore is the Kärlinger Haus mountain hut which is open for the summer season; in addition, there is a winter room available. The valley is surrounded by the mountains Viehkogel (2,158 m), Glunkerer (1,932 m) and Stuhljoch (2,448 m)[3] which lead to the Funtenseetauern mountain (2,578 m), named after the lake.

History

Earliest evidence of use of the area for grazing can be traced to ca 1604-1619.[3] Around 1870 there was evidence of eight active Kaser (living quarters/stables) causing concerns of overgrazing.[1] The Funtenseealm (hut) was active until 1964.[3]

Temperature

Known as the coldest spot in Germany, the lake is the site where the country's record lowest temperature, −45.9 °C (−50.6 °F),[4][5][6] was recorded on 24 December 2001. It is theorized that due to the unique situation of trapped cold air, a temperature of −55 °C (−67 °F) is possible.[7] The extreme cold spot at the lake is said to result in a reverse tree line, as no trees can grow at any point below about 60 m above the lake,[6] although studies have found that it may be the result of overgrazing animals.[3] Temperatures are regularly monitored by a private weather station installed by Jörg Kachelmann.[8]

Climate data for Funtensee
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −2
(28)		 −2
(28)		 1
(34)		 6
(43)		 12
(54)		 15
(59)		 17
(63)		 17
(63)		 13
(55)		 10
(50)		 3
(37)		 −1
(30)		 7
(45)
Average low °C (°F) −9
(16)		 −10
(14)		 −7
(19)		 −3
(27)		 2
(36)		 4
(39)		 6
(43)		 7
(45)		 4
(39)		 1
(34)		 −4
(25)		 −8
(18)		 −1
(30)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 60
(2.4)		 69
(2.7)		 60
(2.4)		 57
(2.2)		 83
(3.3)		 105
(4.1)		 102
(4.0)		 116
(4.6)		 87
(3.4)		 72
(2.8)		 69
(2.7)		 72
(2.8)		 952
(37.4)
Average precipitation days 11.3 12.3 12.8 12.6 14.8 15.4 15.5 14.5 11.9 10.8 12.3 12.5 156.7
Average snowy days 10.3 11.6 10.6 7.6 2.7 .7 .2 .1 .7 3.3 7.6 11.1 66.5
Source: https://www.meteoblue.com/de/wetter/historyclimate/climatemodelled/k%c3%a4rlingerhaus-am-funtensee_deutschland_8379362

Outflow

The noise of the water disappearing underground has led to local folklore and the naming of the outflowpoint Teufelsmühle[9] (Devil's Mill or Devil's Grinder). The exact route the water takes underground has not yet been established, and an extensive cave has not been ruled out, but the outflow point is not accessible to humans for investigation.[1]

See also

References
  1. "FISCHER, K. (1987): Das Funtensee-Uvala im Steinernen Meer" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-02-06. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  2. Deutschland extrem Focus 2007 no 29
  3. Pflanzensoziologische Untersuchunges im Bereich der alpinen Baumgrenze um Funtenseegebit unter Berücksichtigung des antopogenen Einflusses Archived 2007-10-06 at the Wayback Machine Horst Freiberg 1985
  4. Neuer Temperaturrekord in Deutschland - Tiefste je gemessene Temperatur 24.12.01 shortnews.de
  5. Minus 33,4 Grad am Funtensee in Bayern Adhoc news 21.01.2009
  6. www.kaerlingerhaus.de DAV Sektion Berchtesgaden
  7. Von Teufelslöchern und kollabierenden Salzstöcken Pockennarben auch in Deutschland 08.02.2008 - scinexx.de
  8. Für die Region eine »Riesenwerbung Archived 2009-11-17 at the Wayback Machine Berchtesgadener Anzeiger 21.01.2009
  9. Die Teufelsmühle am Funtensee Sektion-alpen.net
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