“A Gem among the Rocks”—Identifying and Measuring Visual Preferences for Mountain Lakes

Abstract

The high visual quality of lakes bolsters aesthetic and recreational experiences, but little is known about the specific visual preferences related to mountain lakes. This study therefore aimed at assessing people’s preferences on visual characteristics of mountain lakes using an online questionnaire. Adopting a qualitative approach, we first identified major recognised characteristics of mountain lakes, i.e., respondents indicated that mountain lakes are typically small-sized lakes with clear, cold and blue water and are embedded in a natural mountain landscape. Then, we used different picture sets related to water clarity, water colour, presence of algae, lake shore and surrounding land cover to quantify preferences. Our results indicated a clear preference for blue, clear water and the absence of algae as well as large rocks at the lake shore and forest around the lake. In particular, preferences related to visual water characteristics were highly homogeneous across socio-cultural groups and confirmed previous findings. To illustrate the applicability of our findings, we integrated our results with spatial and limnological data to quantify aesthetic values for four selected study lakes in the European Alps. Finally, we discuss our findings in the context of increasing demand for nature-based experiences and the implications for decision-making.