Lake Constance

Lake Constance, also known as Bodensee, is a beautiful lake where Germany, Switzerland, and Austria meet. It has three parts: the Upper Lake Constance, the Lower Lake Constance, and a part of the Rhine River called the Seerhein. The lake is in an area called the Alpine Foreland. The shores are in the German states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, the Swiss cantons of St. Gallen, Thurgau, and Schaffhausen, and the Austrian state of Vorarlberg.

Many people live around Lake Constance. Some larger towns are Constance, Friedrichshafen, Bregenz, Lindau, Überlingen, and Kreuzlingen. There are also interesting islands, like Reichenau in the lower lake and Lindau and Mainau in the upper lake. A piece of land called Bodanrück separates the two parts of the lake.

Even though the lake is called Constance in English, its German name, Bodensee, comes from a small village named Bodman, located at the very northwest corner of the lake.

Description

Lake Constance is a big, beautiful lake by the Rhine River. It is between the Alpine Rhine and the High Rhine. It is the third largest freshwater lake in Central and Western Europe.

The lake is about 63 kilometers long and almost 14 kilometers wide. It covers around 536 square kilometers and is 395 meters above sea level. It has two main parts. The larger east part is called the Obersee or "Upper Lake." The smaller west part is called the Untersee or "Lower Lake." These parts connect by a short stretch of the Rhine called the Seerhein. The lake gives drinking water to the area.

History

Lake Constance was formed by the Rhine Glacier during the Quaternary glaciation ice age. After the end of the last glacial period, about 10,000 years ago, the two parts of the lake were once one big lake. Over time, the High Rhine eroded downward, causing the lake level to drop and creating a barrier called the Konstanzer Schwelle.

In old times, the two parts of the lake had different names. Later, they came to share the same name, though we don’t know why.

In the 1800s, the area around Lake Constance had five different time zones within just 46 kilometres (29 mi). This caused confusion for trade and travel. In 1892, Germany switched to CET, and by 1895, it was the only time used around the lake.

Name

The earliest records of the lake come from Roman times, when it was called Lacus Venetus and Lacus Acronius. Later Romans used the name Lacus Brigantinus. The German name Bodensee comes from a place called Bodman, which was important in the early Middle Ages.

After a big church meeting called the Council of Constance in the 1400s, the name Lacus Constantinus began to be used. This name comes from the town of Konstanz. Today, many languages use either Bodensee or Lake Constance to name the lake. Some people also call it the “Swabian Sea,” but this is more of a fun, poetic name.

Key facts

The area around Lake Constance was covered by ice during the ice age, so no very old settlements have been found there. Evidence shows that people lived nearby during the Middle Stone Age, but they did not stay permanently. Permanent villages began to appear during the Neolithic period, with wooden houses built on piles in the water. One such village has been recreated at Unteruhldingen as a museum.

During the Bronze Age, people lived along the shores. In the Iron Age, the people living around the lake were called Celts. The Romans later came and built towns, including Bregenz and Constance. After the Romans left, a group called the Alamanni settled there. The area became important for trade and for the Christian church.

Geography

Lake Constance is located in the foothills of the Alps. The shore of both main lakes is 273 kilometres (170 mi) long. Of this, 173 kilometres (107 mi) are in Germany (Baden-Württemberg 155 kilometres or 96 miles, Bavaria 18 kilometres or 11 miles), 28 kilometres (17 mi) are in Austria and 72 kilometres (45 mi) are in Switzerland. If you combine the upper and lower lakes, Lake Constance has a total area of 536 km² (207 sq mi). This makes it the third largest lake in Central Europe by area after Lake Balaton (594 km² or 229 sq mi) and Lake Geneva (580 km² or 220 sq mi). It is also the second largest by water volume (48.5 km³ or 11.6 cu mi or 39,300,000 acre⋅ft) after Lake Geneva (89 km³ or 21 cu mi or 72,000,000 acre⋅ft) and stretches for over 69.2 kilometres (43.0 mi) between Bregenz and Stein am Rhein. Its catchment area is around 11,500 km² (4,400 sq mi), reaching as far south as Lago di Lei in Italy.

The area of the Obersee, or Upper Lake, is 473 km² (183 sq mi). It stretches from Bregenz to Bodman-Ludwigshafen for over 63.3 kilometres (39.3 mi) and is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) wide between Friedrichshafen and Romanshorn. At its deepest point between Fischbach and Uttwil, it is 251.14 metres (824.0 ft) deep.

The Obersee and Untersee are connected by the Seerhein.

The Untersee, or Lower Lake, which is separated from the Obersee and from its north-west arm, the Überlinger See, by the large peninsula of Bodanrück, has an area of 63 km² (24 sq mi).

Ecology

Lake Constance has many different plants and animals. Long ago, people changed the land around the lake, but some natural areas remain. You can find special trees and flowers like marsh gentian and orchids, and even the Siberian iris. One unique flower is the Lake Constance forget-me-not, which only grows on certain beaches.

The lake is also home to many birds, with over 400 different kinds seen there. Some birds, like the blackbird and chaffinch, nest in the nature reserves around the lake. In the winter, thousands of birds visit Lake Constance to rest and eat. The lake has about 45 kinds of fish, including perch, pike, and trout. Some fish, like the Bodenseefelchen, are famous and often served in local restaurants.

Some animals not originally from the lake have arrived and caused problems. For example, the zebra mussel can block water pipes, and the killer shrimp eats fish eggs. These newcomers change the balance of nature in the lake.

Tourism, leisure and sports

The tourism and leisure industry is very important for the Lake Constance region. Many people visit the lake each year.

This area is famous for its many activities. You can enjoy sights, water sports, winter sports like skiing, and summer sports like swimming and sailing. It is also one of the few places where modern zeppelin airships fly, allowing people to see the lake from above.

The Lake Constance region has many towns and attractions, such as Konstanz, Überlingen, and Lindau. Popular spots include Rhine Falls, islands like Mainau, and castles such as Salem Abbey and Meersburg Castle.

Lake Constance hosts many cultural events, like the Bregenzer Festspiele in Bregenz, where operas and plays are performed on a floating stage. There are also biking trails, such as the "Bodensee-Radweg" around the lake, and hiking paths.

Swimming is best from mid-June to mid-September when the water warms up. Diving is popular too. Boating is a big activity, with many pleasure boats and special events held each year.

Sights and cultural heritage

Settlements on the lake

Austria

• Hard
• Hörbranz
• Bregenz
• Lochau
• Höchst
• Fussach
• Gaissau

Germany

From the entry of the Rhine, on the northern or right shore:

• On the Upper Lake (Obersee)
  • Lindau (in Bavaria)
  • Wasserburg
  • Nonnenhorn
  • Kressbronn (in Baden-Württemberg)
  • Langenargen
  • Eriskirch
  • Friedrichshafen
  • Immenstaad
  • Hagnau
  • Stetten
  • Meersburg
  • Uhldingen-Mühlhofen (on the Überlinger See)
  • Überlingen
  • Sipplingen
  • Ludwigshafen
  • Bodman
• Konstanz with suburbs
  • Wallhausen
  • Dingelsdorf
  • Litzelstetten
• On the Lower Lake (Untersee)
  • Reichenau (including the island with same name)
  • Allensbach (on the Gnadensee)
  • Radolfzell am Bodensee (on the Zeller See)
  • Moos
  • Gaienhofen
  • Öhningen

Switzerland

From the entry of the Rhine, on the southern or left shore:

• On the Upper Lake (Obersee)
  • Altenrhein, St. Gallen
  • Staad, St. Gallen
  • Rorschach, St. Gallen
  • Goldach, St. Gallen
  • Horn, Thurgau
  • Steinach, St. Gallen
  • Arbon, Thurgau (as all the following)
  • Frasnacht
  • Egnach
  • Salmsach
  • Romanshorn
  • Uttwil
  • Kesswil
  • Güttingen
  • Altnau
  • Landschlacht
  • Münsterlingen
  • Scherzingen
  • Bottighofen
  • Kreuzlingen (and Konstanz, Germany)
• On the Seerhein
  • Gottlieben
• On the Lower Lake (Untersee)
  • Triboltingen
  • Ermatingen
  • Mannenbach
  • Eschlibach
  • Berlingen
  • Steckborn
  • Mammern
  • Eschenz
  • Stein am Rhein, Schaffhausen

Fishing

Lake Constance has frozen over many times in history, sometimes only partially.

In 2001, professional fishermen caught about 1,000 tonnes of fish. This was less than in earlier years. One type of fish, Lake Constance trout, almost disappeared in the 1980s because of pollution. Thanks to protection efforts, it has come back. The lake is also home to a rare type of trout that is in danger of disappearing.