Wichelsee, Reservoir in Obwalden, Switzerland

Wichelsee is a reservoir in the municipalities of Alpnach and Sarnen in the canton of Obwalden, set into a quiet valley surrounded by forest and meadows. The lake covers approximately 22 hectares at 459 meters elevation and is bordered by green fields and woods, with a forested area rising toward Kernwald on its eastern side.

The lake was created in 1955 when the Sarner Aa river was dammed by a hydroelectric power plant operated by Sarneraa, a subsidiary of Centralschweizerische Kraftwerke. This damming project transformed the area into a water management facility that continues to serve both local water storage and power generation needs.

The lake and its surrounding floodplain forest have been a protected area since 2005. The dam, rebuilt in 2007 with a bypass channel and fish ladder, lets fish pass the weir on their migration route. Birdwatchers come for eagle owls, tufted ducks and a colony of swans.

The lake lies in the municipalities of Alpnach and Sarnen, near the villages of Alpnach and Kägiswil. Since 2005 the lake and surrounding area have been protected, and in 2007 a fish pass was built into the dam. The dam can be overflooded during high water, so check conditions before walking near the weir.

Though created by a hydroelectric dam, the water from the lake continues to flow down the Sarner Aa river, making it an active part of the local water cycle rather than a static reservoir. Today, the artificial lake attracts waterfowl such as ducks, swans, and even eagle owls that nest and feed in this otherwise worked landscape.