Räterichsbodensee, reservoir

Räterichsbodensee is a reservoir in Guttannen in the Oberhasli region of the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, at about 1,767 m above sea level. Its 25 million m³ of water are held by a dam and used for electricity in the Handeck 2 and Handeck 3 plants of Kraftwerke Oberhasli. The lake lies on the Aare and covers 0.67 km².

The reservoir was built in the mid-20th century by constructing a dam to collect and control water from nearby glaciers and mountains. The facility became part of a series of reservoirs in the region that generate renewable energy for local communities and industries.

The reservoir takes its name from the surrounding mountain area and sits in a valley used by locals and hikers throughout the year. It serves as a starting point for mountain excursions and represents how people have adapted water infrastructure to fit within the natural alpine setting.

The reservoir lies at about 1,767 m in the Grimsel area above Guttannen, reached by the road toward the Grimsel Pass. The dam wall can be walked, and the water is drawn off to the Handeck 2 and Handeck 3 power plants of Kraftwerke Oberhasli. Weather at this altitude changes quickly, so carry rain and wind protection even in summer.

In September 2007, artist Pierre Mettraux completed a large-format painting of the water nymph Mélisande on the dam wall of Räterichsbodensee. The reservoir holds about 25 million cubic metres of water at roughly 1,767 metres above sea level, and its water feeds the Handeck 2 and Handeck 3 power plants of Kraftwerke Oberhasli.