Gigerwaldsee, lake in the municipality of Pfäfers, in the Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland
Gigerwaldsee is a large reservoir in Canton St. Gallen, held back by an arched concrete dam. The basin sits over 1,300 meters high in a narrow mountain valley and is surrounded by steep rocky cliffs and forested slopes.
The dam was completed in 1976 and stands nearly 150 meters high to store water for electricity generation. Before its construction, the valley was wild mountain terrain with a small stream where the Walser community of Sankt Martin had settled.
The name references the valley and waters that draw visitors since the 1970s. The area is shaped by the Walser people, an alpine community whose traditional homes still stand in nearby Sankt Martin.
The southern shoreline is easy to reach on foot, with marked trails and a popular route to the Walser village of Sankt Martin. Visitors should look for the four lit tunnels along the road, which offer views of the water and mountains.
The water glows bright blue-green from mineral and silt particles in glacial meltwater. During maintenance work in 2024 to 2025, the entire basin was drained to fix sediment buildup and upgrade water intake structures.
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