Kaprun High Mountains Reservoir
An imposing world of water, rock and electricity awaits visitors high above Zell am See-Kaprun. During the summer months, this excursion destination offers opportunities for hiking, mountaineering, and to immerse yourself in the mythos that is Kaprun.
The two high-mountain reservoirs in upper Kaprun Valley lie there like two fjords – nestled between the 3000 m peaks of the Alps, right on the edge of Hohe Tauern National Park. It was in the postwar years that a myth was born, one you can still discover to this day. An exhibition in two languages presents the history and challenges of this epic construction project, along with the astonishing technological achievements that were made here in the middle of the Alps.
At the Kaprun High-Mountain Reservoirs, visitors are introduced to the seemingly unbridled power of water as well as the opportunities to turn that power into electricity. Focused on families in particular, the interactive stations along the aptly named "Power Trail" provide playful ways to explore themes relating to hydropower and energy production. Guided tours of the dam itself treat visitors to insights into the inner workings of the Moosersperre and the ultramodern power generation plant. As an additional highlight, there are countless opportunities to explore the surrounding mountains via hiking paths and an array of fixed-cable climbing trails.
The first plans for a hydroelectric plant in Kaprun Valley were drawn up in the 1920s and 30s. It was ultimately completed in 1955, with substantial means provided by the “Marshall Plan”. Because of the immense physical and mental dedication of the “Men of Kaprun” and its gigantic size, the power station quickly became a symbol of the Austrian reconstruction.
