Lake Davos

Lake Davos
Name	Lake Davos
Location	Davos, Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland
Coordinates	46°48′N 9°50′E
Inflow	Dischmabach, Flüelabach
Outflow	Landwasser
Catchment	Landwasser basin
Basin countries	Switzerland
Length	2.5 km
Width	0.6 km
Area	1.48 km²
Max-depth	54 m
Elevation	1,560 m

Lake Davos is an alpine lake located in the municipality of Davos in the Canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. Situated on the Albula Alps slope and fed by tributaries from nearby valleys, the lake forms a prominent feature of the Landwasser catchment and the Davos plateau landscape. It functions as a freshwater reservoir, recreational hub, and focal point for regional transportation links connecting to the Rhaetian Railway, Flüela Pass, and surrounding mountain communities.

Geography

Lake Davos lies within the Davos municipality of the Prättigau/Davos District in the Canton of Graubünden, positioned south of the Susch and north of the Sertig Valley. The lake occupies a glacially formed basin on the Davos Plateau near the Parsenn skiing area and the Jakobshorn massif, framed by ridgelines that include the Piz Kesch range and the Bündner Oberland foothills. Nearby settlements include the town of Davos Dorf, Davos Platz, and the village of Klosters, while regional transport corridors to Chur, Landquart, and St. Moritz traverse passes such as the Flüela Pass and routes toward Zernez and the Engadin. The lake’s surroundings include alpine meadows, municipal forests tied to the Davos municipality land use plan and conservation areas recognized by cantonal authorities.

Hydrology

Hydrologically the lake is fed by mountain streams including the Dischma Valley tributaries and the Flüelabach watershed, with subsurface contributions from morainic deposits left by the Würm glaciation and earlier Pleistocene advances. Outflow from the lake joins the Landwasser river system, which itself is a tributary to the Albula River network feeding the Rhein (Rhine) basin toward Basel and the North Sea. Seasonal snowmelt patterns typical of the Alps drive spring freshets that influence reservoir levels managed in coordination with cantonal water authorities and hydroelectric operators, including infrastructure linked to the Rhaetian Railway water supply and local power needs. Historical hydrological studies have referenced methods used by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) and the Federal Office for the Environment in assessing sedimentation, catchment runoff, and climate-driven precipitation shifts observed across the Alpine Convention signatory region.

History

The basin of the lake formed during Quaternary glaciation episodes that shaped the Albula Alps and the broader Rhaetian Alps physiography, with moraines and fluvial terraces documented by geologists from the University of Zurich and the University of Bern. Human use of the lake and Davos plateau expanded during Medieval trade routes linking the Valais and the Engadin, with livestock pasturing records appearing in archives from the Prince-Bishopric of Chur and later documents in the Graubünden cantonal repositories. In the 19th and 20th centuries the area gained prominence through spa and health tourism, intersecting with figures associated with the development of sanatoria in Davos Platz and transport improvements tied to engineers collaborating with the Rhaetian Railway and the Swiss Federal Railways. Twentieth-century regional planning, influenced by events such as international conferences hosted in Davos, affected land use planning, lake management, and infrastructure projects overseen by federal ministries and cantonal administrations.

Ecology and Conservation

The lake supports aquatic communities characteristic of high-elevation European alpine lakes, including cold-water fish populations cultivated historically by local fisheries associations and stocking programs administered under cantonal directives. Littoral zones feature macrophyte stands and invertebrate assemblages studied by researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) and the University of Basel. Surrounding alpine pastures and subalpine forests sustain bird species monitored by the Swiss Ornithological Institute and conservation initiatives tied to the Natura 2000 network and cantonal protected-area schemes. Conservation measures address invasive species prevention, water quality standards aligned with the Water Framework Directive principles as interpreted in Swiss practice, and habitat restoration supported by partnerships involving the Swiss Alpine Club, local environmental NGOs, and municipal stewardship programs.

Recreation and Tourism

Lake Davos is a focal point for outdoor recreation in the Graubünden tourist economy, offering swimming, rowing, and winter ice skating when conditions permit, with events promoted by the Davos Klosters tourism organization and local sports clubs. Proximity to ski areas such as Parsenn and Jakobshorn integrates summer hiking routes connected to the Swiss National Park gateways and long-distance trails like segments of the Via Alpina and regional variants leading toward St. Moritz and the Bernina Pass. Annual cultural and sporting events hosted in Davos leverage venues used for international gatherings, attracting participants who also access local hospitality providers, hotels associated with the Swiss Hotel Association, and restaurants featuring regional cuisine recognized in cantonal guides.

Infrastructure and Transportation

Infrastructure around the lake includes roads linking Davos Dorf and Davos Platz to the Flüela Pass and the A13 motorway (Switzerland), while rail connections on the Rhaetian Railway provide links to Landquart and onward connections to the Swiss Federal Railways network. Municipal utilities manage water supply, lakefront promenades, and sewage treatment coordinated with cantonal engineering offices and firms experienced in alpine construction, some of which have contracts with companies known regionally. Emergency services coordinate with the Cantonal Police of Graubünden and alpine rescue teams such as the Rega helicopter service for incidents on and around the lake, while regional planning initiatives involve cross-jurisdictional cooperation among Graubünden municipalities and federal agencies.

Category:Lakes of Graubünden