Oesinensee (Lake Oeschine)

Oeschinensee is one of the most photographed lakes in Switzerland, a deep blue-green lake in a high basin above the village of Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland. It lies at about 1,580 metres above sea level, in a cirque ringed by steep rock walls and glaciers, with the snowy Blüemlisalp massif forming a spectacular backdrop at its head. The colour of the water, a vivid turquoise that changes with the light and the season, comes from fine glacial silt carried in by meltwater, and it is the main reason people come. The lake lies close to the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch World Heritage area, in an Alpine setting.

The lake has no outlet stream on the surface. Its water drains underground through the limestone, emerging lower down in the valley, and the lake level changes with the seasons, rising in summer with snowmelt and falling in autumn. It is about a kilometre long and quite deep, and it is fed by waterfalls pouring from the high cliffs. A rockfall in the past created much of the dramatic scenery at the lakeshore, and the huge boulders add to the sense of wildness. In spring and early summer, meltwater cascades from the cliffs, and in autumn the larch trees on the slopes turn gold.

Getting there is half the pleasure. A gondola from the edge of Kandersteg carries visitors up toward the lake in a few minutes, leaving a short walk of around half an hour along a broad path to the shore, with a few steps. Walkers can also hike up from the valley, a climb of a couple of hours through forest. Once at the lake, a path circles the shore, and the walk around takes an hour or two. At the lakeside there are rowing boats to rent, a restaurant with a terrace, and places to swim, though the water is very cold, usually only a few degrees above freezing in spring and a bit warmer in late summer. For more demanding walkers, trails climb to the Oeschinen Alp and higher to the Blüemlisalp huts and viewpoints, and a high-level path leads to the Heuberg ridge with views over the whole basin.

In winter, the lake freezes and the area is used for winter walking and snowshoeing, and in summer there is a toboggan run near the upper gondola station. Operating times of the gondola vary with the season and conditions, so check ahead and arrive early to avoid crowds, as the lake is very popular in July and August. Weather can change quickly at this altitude, so bring warm clothing and good footwear.

The lake suits families, photographers, hikers and anyone who wants an easy approach to an alpine landscape. Nearby Blausee and the Gasterntal make good additions to a day or two in the Kandersteg area.