Popradské pleso is also a good starting point for the tours around Mengusovská valley. To Popradské pleso you can get from Štrbské pleso following the marked trail which take approximately two hours of slow walking. Near Popradské pleso there is the symbolic cemetery. In this cemetery there is a monument to victims of the High Tatras. The cemetery is a good idea to show the number of victims who lost their lives in the mountains.

Popradské pleso covers an area of 6.88 hectares and it is 18 meters depth. In the past it was called Rybie pleso (Fish lake), as it was the only mountain-lake in the southern High Tatra Mountains with the natural occurrence of fish. The old name was first used in 1736 by Matej Bel, a prominent Slovak scholar of 18th century.

At the lake you can find Cottage of Popradské pleso where you can buy some refreshments, beer or try Slovak traditional meals (e.g. Bryndzové halušky). You can also book a room here and stay here for few nights. If so, I would recommend you to wake up very early and enjoy the sun-rise.

View Popradské pleso – one of the most popular place in Slovakia in a larger map

The post Popradské pleso – one of the most popular places in Slovakia appeared first on Europe Explored.

The lake itself covers more than 6.8 square kilometres of the Austrian countryside. There are public beaches and easy access to the lake from all sides. The water temperature is a comfortable 19° Celsius, which makes spending a day along the shores, floating on the surface or even diving deep below, a more enjoyable experience.

Achensee, Austria by J.-P. Donzey

There is just so much to be seen and explore in and around Achensee. Countless scuba divers make their way to the lake every single year in order to dive in the pristine waters and experience what the lake has to offer. There are also a number of golf courses in the area. For a truly unique experience, you can simply take the cable car up into the Karwendel mountains where you will be afforded some of the most breathtaking views of the countryside. At the same time, you could even take a ride on the nostalgic steam locomotive that makes its way through the valley.

And although it would be nice experience everything that Achensee has to offer on a single day, you will find that you need several days in the area to truly experience all that the region has to offer. However, do not worry because there are a number of hotels and lodges located around Achensee for those who would like to stay longer.

As the popularity of ecotourism grows, more and more people have begun making their way to Austria to see the many natural wonders that the country has to offer. In recent years, the number of visitors to the Achensee region has increased substantially.

The post Achensee – the largest mountain lake of Austria appeared first on Europe Explored.