Tradition / Region: Austrian Mythology
Alternate Names: Water Nymph of the Koralpe; Lake Maiden of the Koralpe
Category: Mermaid
The Myth
On the Koralpe mountain range there lies a dark lake surrounded by high cliffs. In this lake, people say, a water nymph dwells. Only a few old folk claimed to have seen or heard of her, and they told that she granted protection and prosperity to the shepherds of the mountain, so long as they did not disturb her peace.
One young shepherd, however, was seized by the desire to see her with his own eyes. He went to the lake and, taking up a heavy stone, hurled it into the water.
At once a wild storm broke out. From the depths of the lake the beautiful water nymph rose, and the waters began to swell higher and higher, rushing toward the shepherd. He tried to flee, but the rising water overtook him.
The next morning he was found dead upon the shore, while the lake lay once more calm and silent, as if nothing had happened.
Sources
sagen.at contributors. (n.d.). Der See auf der Koralpe. In sagen.at, from https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/oesterreich/kaernten/franz_pehr/derseeaufderkoralpe.html