Austria is rich in attractions, many of which are both natural and man-made. One of them is the Seegrotte, an underground lake that will fascinate adults and children alike. On the way to the destination, tourists will find not one but two lakes and a series of beautiful stone caves, the walls of which hide a number of unsolved mysteries.
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The history of a unique underground reservoir
The Seegrotte Lake, near the Austrian town of Hinterbrühl, is a great adventure in itself, and combined with an underground excursion, it is an experience to remember forever.
The lake is the largest underground body of water in Europe and is considered one of the rarest natural monuments on our planet. The lake measures six thousand two hundred metres by six thousand metres. The only access to the lake is through a 400 metre long tunnel.
It is noteworthy that the lake was not formed as a result of tectonic changes, but as a result of the catastrophe that occurred in the middle of the 19th century. A resident of the town of Hinterbrühl had discovered rich deposits of gypsum, which was soon mined on an industrial scale. Gradually, a huge mine was created, which was flooded with underground water after a fatal rock explosion.
Extraction of the mineral ceased, but attempts were made at various times to use the cave as a wine cellar and even as a mushroom plantation, but both attempts to rehabilitate the cave failed.
Of course, unsuccessful attempts to make the cave profitable did not stop the Austrians, and thirty years after the flood the first tourist route was opened here.
Visits to the lake were temporarily suspended during the Second World War, when the cave, well protected from aerial bombardment, was used for the production of Salamander and Spatz fighter planes.
At the end of the war, tours of the underground lake resumed and have continued ever since. Thousands of tourists from all over the world travel to Austria and include the Vienna underground lake in their itinerary.
How excursions are organised?
The underground lake adventure begins with a tunnel that takes walkers 400 metres underground, away from the light of day. In places, the ceiling of the tunnel overhangs very low and travellers literally have to bend down to continue.
At the end of the tunnel, groups of visitors enter a cave where boats await them. The boats, which can hold up to ten people, depart every twenty minutes and take the excited tourists through the winding caves.
The water surrounding the boat is an unforgettable experience. Its thickness is illuminated by hidden lighting elements, creating a futuristic image and the feeling that the boat is floating in emerald green water. Temperatures below ground are quite low, so it's a good idea to wear warm clothing on this excursion.
It's certainly not an excursion for young children, but schoolchildren might enjoy it more than a visit to the museum.
