The Wörtherseemandl is a Carinthian mythical figure and, according to legend, caused the creation of Lake Wörthersee.
Thousands of years ago, there was a rich city on the area that Lake Wörthersee occupies today. Trade with distant countries brought wealth to the residents, but gradually made people virtuous. Money and consumption were given priority over everything else and no one believed in God anymore.
One Christmas Eve (in other stories it happened on the eve of Easter) the citizens gathered in the large banquet hall in the town hall for Christmas dinner. The town church rang for Christmas mass, but no one thought of leaving the party. Suddenly the doors to the banquet hall opened and a small bearded man entered. He pointed out to the celebrating people that everyone who wanted to live should attend the Christmas mass. His warning, however, was met with only laughter and insults. The little man then left the hall grumpily.
At midnight the doors opened again and the little man entered the banquet hall for the second time. He carried a small barrel under his arm and once again admonished the revelers to fulfill their duties as Christians. When the citizens began to mock again, the little man shouted angrily: "If you want it no other way, death and destruction will come upon you and your sinful city!" He broke through the bung of the barrel and masses of water poured out. The banquet hall was quickly under water. No one could close the barrel and the little man suddenly disappeared.
The people - although they regretted their actions - drowned in the floods. The water completely covered the city and large parts of the country. Today the body of water is known as Lake Wörthersee and the admonishing little man is known as the Wörtherseemandl (Mandl is a dialect and means little man).