The Wetter-see

Close beneath the mountain Gerlos, in the Zillerthal, lies the

“Wetter-See” (weather-lake), into which no one dares to throw a stone,

and it is not advisable for even a stranger to do so, or he would find

himself involved in great trouble from the surrounding mountaineers,

among whom still exists the firm belief, which has been corroborated by

hundreds of examples, that directly a stone has been thrown into the

lake fearful thunderstorms arise, accompanied by devastating hail and

wind.

The See lies in a desolate basin on the heights of the mountains, and

every one who is shown the lake hears from his guide, or any cowherd,

the following legend: A shepherd arrived one day on the borders of

the See, where he saw a huge golden chain lying, the other end of

which remained in the water. Just as he stooped to grasp it he saw,

glittering on the other side of the lake, one of much larger size, so

he left the first to go and take the other; but as he approached it

and was about to put his hand upon it, both chains disappeared under

the water, while the poor fellow stood stupefied with amazement on the

shore.

People say that “the herdsman was too avaricious; for, had he been

content with the one chain which was within his grasp, he would never

have lost them both.” As the chains are said to appear from time to

time, people are still on the look-out for them, because they are of

such enormous length that he who finds one of them would be rich during

all his days.