Lake St. Moritz

Lake St. Moritz (German: St. Moritzersee, Romansh: Lej da San Murezzan) is a lake at St. Moritz, Switzerland. With a surface of 0.78 km², it is smaller than the main lakes of the Upper Engadin valley (Lake Sils, Lake Silvaplana).

Lake St. Moritz St. Moritzersee Lej da San Murezzan
Location	Engadin, Grisons
Coordinates	46°29′40″N 9°50′45″E
Type	meromictic
Primary inflows	Inn River, Ovel dal Mulin
Primary outflows	Inn River
Basin countries	Switzerland
Max. length	1.6 km (0.99 mi)
Max. width	0.6 km (0.37 mi)
Surface area	0.78 km^2 (0.30 sq mi)
Max. depth	44 m (144 ft)
Water volume	20 million cubic metres (16,000 acre⋅ft)
Surface elevation	1,768 m (5,801 ft)
Frozen	December - May
Settlements	St. Moritz

Every January or early February, Polo matches are held on the lake. Compared to polo played in the summer, a slightly larger and lighter red ball is used that is easily visible in the snow.

For three weekends every February, horse races are held on the frozen lake. This races called "White Turf" are held since 1907 and brings the wealthy tourists to the lake for champagne and betting. This is also the location, where sports enthusiasts invented the sport of skijoring. In this type of race, thoroughbred horses compete without riders on their backs, but instead skiers in tow. While the sport is also played in other alpine countries, it still is mainly found in the region in which it as originated. The sport has evolved since the first race in 1906; the race as held on the road from St. Moritz to Champfer and as won by the President of Alpina Ski Club Philip Mark and his horse Blitz (German for lightning). Today, the race is run similar to other horse races, with all horses starting at the same time and running around the track. Steering is very difficult complicating the race significantly requiring great strength and skill on behalf of the athletes. The skier with the most points after the three races on consecutive Sundays is crowned the "King of the Engadin Valley". In addition to skijoring, traditional flat and trotting races over different distances are held. Until recently visitor parking was also located on the lake, but this practice has since been prohibited.[1]

The first cricket tournament on the frozen lake took place in 1990. English cricketer David Gower parked his rental car on the ice in January 1990; overnight it broke through the ice and sank.

Gallery

• 
  A view of Lake St. Moritz in winter 2013, Switzerland
• 
  Frozen Lake St. Moritz and St. Moritz town in winter
• 
  A view of St. Moritz from frozen Lake St. Moritz

References

1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-01-18. Retrieved 2011-02-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links

• Waterlevels of Lake St. Moritz
• Lakes of the Upper Engadine valley in Romansh, German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
• White Turf Horse Races (in German)
• Pictures from events on the lake St. Moritz (in German)
• A view of the St. Moritz from a helicopter.
• Cricket on Ice Trophy.
• Ice Cricket Challenge.