This lake in Austria is a hiker and scuba diver's dream

And divers take advantage of its underwater beauties.
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What looks like a lake and feels like a lake isn't necessarily always a lake. Well, at least it's not always that deep.

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Welcome to Green Lake, Austria — a hiker-and-scuba-diver's dream.

This body of water literally shape-shifts throughout the seasons. During the winter, it's more like a shallow pond. But come spring, it gets deep enough to dive and swim in.

Eventually, what was once along the pond's edge becomes submerged underwater, transforming the lake into an incredible underwater oasis.

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Green Lake is surrounded by an Austrian village called Tragöß. It is a county park where hikers tromp through the lush Hochschwab mountains and forests year round.

This region in an Austrian village called Tragöß is a county park where hikers tromp through the lush Hochschwab mountains and forests year round..JPG
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When the snow in the nearby karst mountains begins to melt from rising temperatures in the spring, it trickles into the lake basin and fills it with water.

But once the snow in the nearby karst mountains begins begins to melt from rising temperatures in the spring, it trickles into the lake basin and fills it with water.
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From July through about mid-May, the lake looks like this.

From July through about mid may, the lake looks like this.
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And it is usually only about three to seven feet deep during the region's frigid winter.

Green Lake Austria 2
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Come spring, snowmelt runoff makes the water extremely clean, clear, and cold, maintaining a steady chilly temperature of about 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

The snowmelt makes the water extremely clean, clear, and cold, maintaining a steady chilly temperature of about 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Visitors say that the lake looks the most stunning at this time — during high spring.

Visitors say that the lake looks the most stunning at this time.
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And divers take advantage of its underwater beauty.

And divers take advantage of its underwater beauties.
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Grüner See literally translates to "Green Lake," a name that originates from this sparkling emerald green water.

Grüner See literally translates to "Green Lake," a name that originates from its sparkling emerald green water.
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The lake can reach depths of up to about 40 feet.

At its deepest, the snowmelt makes the lake about 40 feet deep.
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A variety of water creatures live in the lake, including snails, water fleas, small crabs, fly larvae, and even some species of trout.

A variety of water creatures live in the lake, including snails, water fleas, small crabs, fly larvae, and even some species of trout.
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Because the bottom of the lake is very rocky, plants don't survive very well.

Because the bottom of the lake is very rocky, plants don't survive very well.
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In June, the water level reaches its highest mark, at which point meadows of green flowers appear around the edges of the lake.

In June, the water level reaches it's highest mark, at which point meadows of green flowers appear around the edges of the sea.
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A little bridge rests atop large rocks underwater.

A little bridge is underwater.
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There's also a cute little bench.

At its deepest, the snowmelt makes the lake about 40 feet deep.
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It is now officially a nature conservation area with protections in place to safeguard water quality.

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Hopefully this means that locals and tourists will be able to enjoy its natural beauty for years to come.

It is now officially a nature conservation area with protections in place to preserve water quality.
Thunderbolt_TW (Bai Heng-yao) photography/Flickr
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