Totesee (Germanized: Totensee) is a small natural lake (18 ha or 44 acres) at the Grimsel Pass in Switzerland. The lake lies immediately to the south of the natural watershed and cantonal boundary at the pass. It is therefore in the canton of Valais, and it would naturally drain into the river Rhône in the valley below. However a dam has been constructed to enable its use as a reservoir, increasing its size and raising its level by 16 metres (52 ft). As part of this work, an aqueduct supplies water to the Grimselsee, which drains into the river Aare and thus forms part of the Rhine catchment.[1][2]

Totesee
Totesee is located in Canton of Valais
Totesee
Totesee
Totesee is located in Canton of Bern
Totesee
Totesee
Totesee is located in Switzerland
Totesee
Totesee
Totesee is located in Alps
Totesee
Totesee
LocationGrimsel Pass, Valais
Coordinates46°33′37.05″N 8°20′22.91″E / 46.5602917°N 8.3396972°E / 46.5602917; 8.3396972
Typenatural lake, reservoir
Basin countriesSwitzerland
Surface area18 ha (44 acres)
Max. depth34 m (112 ft)
Water volume2.5 million cubic metres (2,000 acre⋅ft)
Surface elevation2,160 m (7,090 ft)
Map

In November 2006, the lake's entire trout population died, possibly due to algae.[citation needed]

The name Totensee (also: Lake Toten, literally "Lake of the Dead") is said to be derived from soldiers of Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen driven into the lake by the people of Valais after the Battle of Ulrichen in 1211.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "1250 - Ulrichen" (Map). Totesee (2014 ed.). 1:25'000. National Map 1:25'000. Wabern, Switzerland: Federal Office of Topography – swisstopo. 2012. ISBN 978-3-302-01250-6. Retrieved 2017-06-05 – via map.geo.admin.ch. {{cite map}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  2. ^ "Water catchment area". Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG. Archived from the original on 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
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  •   Media related to Totesee at Wikimedia Commons