The Mooserboden dam wall reaches a height of 107 meters and a length of 500 meters.
The reservoirs collect water from the Pasterze Glacier, the largest glacier in the Eastern Alps.
Construction of the power plant complex was initiated as a massive labor project beginning in 1947.
The reservoirs hold approximately 85 million cubic meters of water combined.
The Lärchwand inclined lift, used to transport visitors, is the largest of its kind in Europe.
The facility functions as a pumped-storage power plant, allowing energy storage by pumping water back to the upper reservoir during low-demand periods.
The Kaprun Hochgebirgsstauseen consist of the Mooserboden and Wasserfallboden reservoirs located at an altitude of approximately 2,000 meters in the Hohe Tauern range. These two dams generate hydroelectric power through a complex system of tunnels and power stations utilizing glacial meltwater. Access is provided via a specialized transport system involving a large-scale incline lift and connecting shuttle buses through mountain tunnels. The Mooserboden site features a visitor museum, 'Electricity from the Alps,' which documents the history of the facility's construction starting in the 1940s. Visitors can walk directly across the Mooser and Drossen dam walls for views of the Grossglockner and surrounding alpine peaks. The area remains a technical landmark of post-WWII industrial engineering in Austria.
The crest of the Mooser dam looking toward the Grossglockner mountain peak.
Bring a windproof jacket and warm layers, as temperatures at 2,000 meters are significantly lower than in the valley.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe hiking shoes to safely navigate the gravel paths around the dam crests.
Start the journey early in the morning to avoid the peak volume of visitors and potential afternoon cloud cover.
Attempting the ascent without checking local weather forecasts, as heavy fog or storms can obscure visibility and impact safety.
Open only during the summer season, typically from late spring until early autumn; closed during winter months due to high-alpine conditions.
Stick to marked paths and trails; do not attempt to climb or traverse restricted technical areas of the dam wall.
