Lai da Marmorera is a dam built in the canton of Graubünden, and it is part of the largest nature park in Switzerland called Ela Park. We were on a way to our hike when we saw this vast mass of ice surrounded by the Alps. We had to stop when we were passing by as we wanted to explore come closer and explore it.
The dam was built after the World War II. when there was extended need for electricity in Zurich. The construction came at cost for locals who lived in a village called Marmorera. Today, the village is submerged under water and people were relocated to other villages in the canton of Graubünden. For those, who were not willing to leave the valley there was another solution. A small community was built just above the lake where those people could relocate. It is really only a few houses left.
The village was destroyed but there are still foundation walls underneath the water, and it's a popular place for diving. The dam is 65 meters deep, so it must be a great place if you like diving. I've seen some videos, and it's scary to me as I don't like deep water.
The construction of the dam was democratically decided as there is direct democracy in Switzerland and all decisions are done by the people, but it is important to mention that the reason why people voted for the construction was financial distress. They were given financial compensation for their relocation which helped them in difficult times after the war.
The reservoir is fed by a small creek called Gelgia. The dam wall is 91 meters high, and when you approach it from the opposite side of the dam you would think that it is a natural mountain lake. Only when you get closer, you can see the wall. There are several hiking trails surrounding the dam. There are also some barbeque spots nearby. We had a great weather and saw some fellow hikers enjoying the day as well.
We walked to the dam wall as we wanted to see the entire lake.
Look at the cracked ice...
The walk offers fascinating views of Oberhalbstein Alps.
Here we go - Lai da Marmorera in its full winter glory. And the bonus is the view of the Albula Alps.
We were not allowed to go down as it was dangerous but there are some places where the lake is accessible.
The hiking trail continues in the forest.
Who would have resisted having a snack at a restaurant with such a view? Before we continued on our trip, we decided to enjoy the dam a bit longer from a restaurant built right above it. The building didn't promise much, but inside it was a lovely cosy place with wonderful employees.
We were a bit hungry, so we ordered traditional Swiss soup called Gerstensuppe or Barley soup. It's basically barley, beans and veggies. Delicious and comforting!
We had a great time, and we will make sure to come back to this place once we are in the region again. Sometimes, we experience the best adventures just by coincidence. This was definitely one of such occasions.
