Boating
Does Lake Thun’s water level tell you the depth?
No. The lake level is the elevation of the water surface above sea level. It does not tell you the available depth at a harbour entrance or beneath your keel.
Keep three measurements separate
- Lake level: the official Spiez, BKW power station gauge is number 2093. Check the measurement’s timestamp and unit.
- Water depth: the distance from surface to bottom at a particular spot. It changes with the water level; charts have their own survey dates and vertical reference levels.
- Draught: how far your boat extends below the surface. For a harbour entrance, allow clearance and obtain current information from the harbour. A gauge reading alone does not confirm safe passage.