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Lej da Silvaplauna. Photo by Acarien on

Top 10 Facts about Lej da Silvaplauna

Lake Silvaplana which is known as Lej da Silvaplauna in Romansh is a lake in the Upper-Engadien valley of Grisons, Switzerland. This famous lake in Switzerland takes its name from the village of Silvaplana.

The lake is connected to the nearby Lej da Champfer, this is a lake of the Upper Engadine Lake District south of the village of Champfèr in the Swiss canton of Graubunden. It connects with Silvaplana and joins it to the north/northeast.

Together with Lake Sils which is close to it, Lake Silvaplana is among the largest lakes of the Grisons. The lake is overlooked by several mountains over three thousand metres. These mountains include Piz Corvatsch, Piz Julier and Piz Surlej.

Lake Silvaplana’s drainage basin culminates at Piz Corvatsch which is 3,451 metres. It comprises several glaciers the largest being the Vadret dal Tremoggia.

The maximum length of Lake Silvana is 3.1 kilometres (1.9 miles), and its maximum width is 1.4 kilometres (0.87 miles). The surface area of the lake is 2.7 kilometres, average depth of forty-eight metres, a maximum depth of seventy-seven metres and holds a water volume of 0.14 km³ (approximately one hundred and ten thousand acre-ft).

Below are the Top 10 Facts about Lej da Silvaplauna;

1. Lake Silvaplana is Among the Largest Lakes in Switzerland

Switzerland has several lakes spread across the nation. Some of these large cover large ground making them rank among the largest lakes in the world.

Lake Silvaplana is among the largest lakes in Switzerland. It has a maximum length of 3.1 kilometres and maximum width of 1.4 kilometres.

Its surface area is 2.7 kilometres with an average depth of forty-eight metres. The maximum depth of Lake Silvaplana is seventy-seven metres and has a water volume of 0.14 km³ which is approximately one hundred and ten thousand acre-ft.

2. The Lake is not Convenient for Swimming because of Water Temperatures

Lake Silvaplane Switzerland and Piz Corvatsch. Photo by Julo on

Lake Silvaplana situated amidst the Swiss Alps is renowned among tourists for the activities they do there. However, not every fun activity can be done at the lake.

It is not convenient for swimming because of the water temperatures. The lake is situated 1,790 metres above sea level.

This makes the water temperature rarely exceed 16 degrees. Even at midday or in the afternoons, the water of Lake Silvana remains cold.

However, brave tourists take on this challenge and swim through the waters of the lake. But they warm themselves after the cold by swimming by the campfire.

3. The Area around the Lake offers 580 Km of Hiking Trail

The surroundings of lake Silvaplana are amazing to take a stroll and watch. The area around the lake provides more than the water in the lake.

There are approximately five hundred and eighty kilometres of hiking trails around the lake’s region. The hiking trails are stroller and wheelchair friendly.

Tourists can be taken on special cultural or culinary tours to demand long-distance hikes. The hikes are more fun as there are areas designated for mountain bike trails making it easier to explore more of the area.

4. Lake Silvaplana is Situated in the Swiss Alps

Lake Silvaplana near St.Moritz, Switzerland. Photo by GabrielleMerk on

The lake is located in a serene environment that provides soothing moments for all the tourists who visit the area. Lake Silvaplana is located near the Switzerland Alps.

It is overlooked by several mountains which are over three thousand metres tall. These mountains are Piz Corvatsch, Piz Julier and Piz Surlej. They are covered with ice on the top giving them a beautiful scene.

5. The Lake is Connected to Nearby a Lake and is Close to a Large Lake

It is not that usual to find more than two lakes situated close to each other. However, Lake Silvaplana is close to two other lakes.

It is connected to the nearby Lej da Champfèr. This is a lake that connects with Lake Silvaplana and joins on the north/northeast side.

Neighbouring lake Silvaplana is another large lake that is also a major tourist attraction site. Lake Sils neighbours Lake Silvaplana. The two lakes are among the largest lakes in the Grisons.

6. Lake Silvaplana is Heavily used for Sports

Lake Silvaplana. Photo by Hansueli Krapf on

Sports-loving tourists flock to Lake Silvaplana to take part in the several sporting activities that take place here. The lake is usually used for several sporting activities.

Some of these sporting activities include kite surfing, windsurfing, kayaking and boat rowing. During the winter months, the lake freezes and offers more ground for several other sporting activities.

The sporting activities which take place in the winter include county skiing, walking through the frozen lake and kitesurfing on snow. The famous Engadin Skimarathon crossing the lake happens annually.

Others usually participate in parachuting and other rare occasion. The rare occasion of black ice brings ice skaters to the lake. Kite surf and windsurfing usually take place in the afternoon when the wind is high.

7. The Lake has Three Primary Inflows

Lake Silvaplana gets its waters from three primary inflows. This is one of the most unique aspects of Lake Silvaplana which explains the source of its water.

The three primary inflows include Inn which was named Sela after Lake Sils, Fexbach and Ova dal Valhun. The Inn is a river that is five hundred and eighteen kilometres long. Fexbach is a ten kilometres long stream which is among the inflows of Lake Silvaplana.

8. A Campsite is Located on the Northern End of the Lake

surfers and kite surfers on Lake Silvaplana. This file was uploaded with Commonist on

Being a popular Lake in Switzerland and the world, there has to be a local facility that hosts the tourists. At the Northern end of Lake Silvaplana is a campsite that offers all the required facilities to the tourists and other visitors.

The tourists can spend their nights at the campsite where bonfires are lit at least every night. There are also several other important basic items being sold at the campsite.

9. There are Two Settlements near Lake Silvaplana

Lake Silvaplana is overlooked by two formal settlements. Sils Maria and Silvaplana settlements are located near the lake.

Sils Maria is a municipality and a village which is located in the Maloja Region, Upper Engadine in the Swiss canton of the Grisons. Silvaplana is also a municipality in the same locality which the lake’s name is derived from.

10. A Philosopher Wrote of How he Conceived an Idea while at Lake Silvaplana

Silvaplana, Switzerland. Photo by Ben Bender on

The lake is usually visited by several people from around the world. Among the visitors to this area is German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.

In his book Ecce Homo, the philosopher wrote about how he first conceived his idea of the Eternal Recurrence. This happened while he was walking through the woods beside Lake Silvaplana in August 1881.