Gepatschspeicher, Hydroelectric reservoir in Kaunertal, Austria
The Gepatschspeicher is a reservoir in the Austrian Alps that stretches 600 meters in length and sits at an elevation of 1751 meters. Water from this mountain lake flows through tunnels to power a hydroelectric station located downstream.
The hydroelectric facility was completed in 1964 and represented a major step forward in Austria's renewable energy development. The installation harnesses the mountain terrain to generate electricity from water.
The lake is crossed by the toll Kaunertaler Gletscherstraße, which runs past its shore. Since 2010 the TIWAG expansion plans have drawn protests: on 25 June 2023 some 600 people demonstrated in Innsbruck, among them WWF Austria, GLOBAL 2000 and Fridays for Future Innsbruck, and on 8 July 2023 a 50-metre banner was stretched across the Platzertal at the planned dam site.
The best time to visit is during summer months when snow has melted and access routes are safe. Bring proper mountain gear and sturdy footwear since the reservoir sits at high altitude in demanding terrain.
The dam was the world's tenth-highest when finished in 1964, at 153 m high and 600 m long. Between 2012 and 2016 a new pressure shaft 4.30 m in diameter was driven through the rock, replacing the old one after about 50 years of operation.
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