Schlegeis Reservoir

The Schlegeisspeicher sits at about eighteen hundred metres at the head of the Zemmgrund in the Zillertal Alps, held by a curved concrete arch dam a hundred and thirty-one metres high and seven hundred and twenty-five long, completed in 1971 as part of the Zillertal hydro scheme. The water is a strong turquoise from glacial rock flour, and the Hochfeiler and the Italian border wall stand at the far end. The alpine toll road up from Mayrhofen climbs through tunnels and hairpins and is closed by snow for much of the year. A level path runs along the shore to the far end in about an hour and a half, from where routes continue to the Olperer hut - whose suspension bridge above the lake has become one of the most photographed spots in Tyrol - and over to Italy.

What you actually see

• A 131-metre arch dam - the curved concrete wall holding the reservoir.
• Turquoise glacial water - the colour from rock flour off the ice above.
• The Olperer hut bridge - the suspension bridge above the lake, heavily photographed.
• A toll alpine road - hairpins and tunnels up from Mayrhofen.

When to go

June to October; the road is closed by snow outside that. A day.

Honest expectations

The road is tolled and closed most of the year. The Olperer hut climb is about two hours up and steep, and the bridge queues for photographs. Weather at this altitude turns fast.

Nearby

Mayrhofen is down the valley; Hintertux glacier is west.