Two landing sites

Low Water Levels in Lake Attersee: Problems for Boat Travel

Two landing stages can no longer be accessed due to the low water level.(Bild: Stern Schifffahrt)

Lake Attersee (Upper Austria) continues to lose water—with noticeable consequences. Due to historically low water levels, sightseeing boats can no longer dock at two landing sites. Operators describe a situation they have never experienced before.

The shores are widening, rocks and sandbars are emerging—and even the boat service is feeling the effects of this year’s exceptional drought. The water level of Lake Attersee has dropped to an extremely low level. On Friday, the Upper Austria state gauge at the outlet into the Ager River in Kammer showed a level of just 104 centimeters. In mid-June, the water level was still at 136 centimeters; in early March, it was as high as 154 centimeters.

Two landing sites can no longer be used
Boat service on Lake Attersee is now also directly affected by the low water level: “We haven’t been calling at the dock in Kammer for several days now, and starting Saturday, we won’t be able to dock in Seewalchen either,” says Doris Cuturi-Stern, managing director of Stern Schifffahrt GmbH, whose fleet also operates on Lake Altaussee.

We haven’t been calling at the pier in Kammer for several days now, and starting Saturday, we won’t be able to dock in Seewalchen either.

Doris Cuturi-Stern, Attersee-Schifffahrt

Bild: Attersee Schifffahrt

“The problem is simply that there isn’t enough water under the keel. We’ve never had a situation like this before,” says Cuturi-Stern, who is a captain herself. The good news: The three motorboats—Stadt Vöcklabruck, Weyregg, and Unterach—are still operating on the north and south routes. “However, a complete suspension of boat service is not on the table,” says the business owner.