June 12, 2023 - Andermatt - Göscheneralp Dam and Reservoir

 Sooz and I took another 30 minute ride that turned into 4 hours.  People working in the outdoor supply store in town recommended we see the Goscheneralp Dam and Reservoir, so we did today.  It's only a 30 minute ride from Andermatt in a direction we have not gone before.  It was a beautiful ride and we decided to have lunch at the restaurant at the dam and walk around a little.

It's really a lot more than just a dam and reservoir although that's interesting to the water manager in me.  There was a constant flow of hikers, bikers, cars, vans and even a boy scout troop.  It was really active with a lot of marked trails for hikers. 

From a website:  The reservoir in the Göscheneralp valley lies at alt. 1792 metres/5,879 feet in the midst of scenic hiking and climbing country. Created 60 years ago and containing some 75 million cubic metres of water, Lake Göscheneralp serves as a reservoir for local power generator Kraftwerk Göschenen AG.  A narrow but easily accessible path runs around it, passing through alpine pastures and moorland. Lake Göscheneralp can be reached by PostBus and car.

Me pointing out Andermatt and how the reservoir and dam work

The restaurant we had lunch at is in the middle-left of the picture.

Goscheneralp Reservoir looking pretty low to me

E-bicycle charging station at the dam

The GS on the far left socializing and enjoying the view with some other motorcycles

One of the narrow tunnels on the way to the dam

Goats in the road coming down from the dam/reservoir - photo by Sooz

Sooz took this picture and said these long-haired beasts are cashmere goats, I did not argue - read about them HERE

This answers one of our questions about the manicured fields - they use this contraption to mow/thresh the grass.  This sign was posted near the dam - they must have posted this because they got tired of answering dumb questions from people like me.

I'm still refining my selfi-taking skills.