Schwarzsee, Natural monument lake in Nauders, Austria

Schwarzsee is a 2.3-hectare moorland lake at 1725 m between the Kleiner and Großer Mutzkopf above Nauders in Tyrol. It is protected as a natural monument together with a 500 m-wide shore strip of Latschenhochmoor, Schwingrasen and Flachmoor. Water lilies cover much of the surface, and the surrounding subalpine spruce forest holds cranberry, heather and rust-leaved alpine rose.

Around 1860 peat was cut from the moor for heating, and the lake's water was diverted onto the pastures of the Lawerz and the Norbertshöhe. In 1960, as tourism grew in Nauders, an attempt was made to turn the lake into a bathing lake, but the soft peat made this impractical and the plan was abandoned. The site has since reverted entirely to nature.

The lake gets its name from the dark water, colored by peat deposits that define the moorland character. Visitors today can still observe the effects of these natural processes in the special plants growing around the shore.

The lake is roughly one hour on foot from Nauders and accessible via marked trails that also connect to nearby lakes and mountain paths. Visitors should bring weatherproof clothing, as conditions at this elevation can change quickly.

The lake is too oxygen-poor for fish, but water lilies grow in numbers on its surface. Among the birds recorded here are tufted duck and common pochard, which use the water while the surrounding bog and spruce forest are protected with it.