Into the Malta Valley.

Saturday, the 30th day of May started out full of sun shine and promising temperature. 
(Later in the day it changed to "cloudy with occasional showers).
A visit to the Malta Valley and the at 1902 meters elevation situated "Kölbrein"  Hydro Electric dam seemed, and turned out to have been, a great idea.

First stop: The town of Gmünd in Upper Carinthia, first mentioned in documents in the year 1252, it has become the cultural and artistic centre of Upper Carinthia and is well worth more than a stop over and a look around. We promised ourselves a longer visit, during which we intend to visit at least some of the many art galleries and museums, including the Porsche Museum.

One enters Gmünd through a narrow, one vehicle only, gate. (above)

The other end of town features a remaining part of the original 

defencive wall, which surrounded the town, and the first archway.

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From Gmünd into the Malta Valley, along a narrow, sometimes one lane highway, controlled by traffic lights testing your patience. But hey! You're on a one day holiday and time is not the most important issue.

It started at "Waiting time 20 min".

At 16 min I decided to take a picture

In mid picture, above, one may notice the safety guide rail of this precarious road.

Patiently waits my "Captur" for the light to change to green.

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onward between lush, flowery meadows on both sides of the road and here and there a waterfall thundering over almost vertical cliffs.

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Finally we reach the dam.
Kölbrein was constructed between 1971 and 1979 and, at 200 meters (660 feet) it is the highest dam in Austria. Many problems necessitated repairs and it was not until 1993 before it could function at full capacity.

The vegetation-less rock face shows the present low water level.

The view down stream shows the secondary, much smaller dam.