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Lake Constance Bodensee
Satellite image
Map
Location	Germany, Switzerland, Austria
Coordinates	47°35′N 9°28′E / 47.583°N 9.467°E / 47.583; 9.467Coordinates: 47°35′N 9°28′E / 47.583°N 9.467°E / 47.583; 9.467
Type	glacial lake
Part of	Rhine
Primary inflows	Alpine Rhine
Primary outflows	High Rhine
Catchment area	11,500 km2 (4,400 sq mi)[1]
Basin countries	Germany, Switzerland, Austria[2][3]
Max. length	63 km (39 mi)[1]
Max. width	14 km (8.7 mi)[1]
Surface area	536 km2 (207 sq mi)[1]
Average depth	90 m (300 ft)
Max. depth	251 m (823 ft)[1]
Water volume	48 km3 (12 cu mi; 39,000,000 acre⋅ft)[1]
Residence time	4.3 years
Shore length1	273 km (170 mi)[1]
Surface elevation	395 m (1,296 ft)
Frozen	1795, 1830, 1880 (partial), 1963
Islands	Mainau Reichenau Lindau and others
Sections/sub-basins	Obersee Lake Überlingen (Überlinger See) Seerhein Untersee Gnadensee Zellersee Rheinsee
Settlements	see list
References	[1][2][3][4][5]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Constance (German: Bodensee) is a lake on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps, and consists of three bodies of water: the Obersee or Upper Lake Constance, the Untersee or Lower Lake Constance, and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, called the Seerhein. These waterbodies lie within the Lake Constance Basin (Bodenseebecken), which is part of the Alpine Foreland and through which the Rhine flows.^[2][3]

The lake is situated in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Its shorelines lie in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, and the Swiss cantons of Thurgau, St. Gallen, and Schaffhausen. The Rhine flows into the lake from the south, with its original course forming the Austro-Swiss border, and has its outflow on the "Lower Lake" where — except for Schaffhausen — it forms the German-Swiss border until the city of Basel.^[4][5]

Description

Lake Constance is the third largest freshwater lake in Central and Western Europe in terms of surface area (and the second largest in terms of volume), after Lake Geneva and (in terms of surface area) Lake Balaton.

It is 63 km (39 mi) long, and at its widest point, nearly 14 km (8.7 mi) wide. It covers approximately 536 km² (207 sq mi), and is 395 m (1,296 ft) above sea level. The greatest depth is 252 metres (827 ft), quite precisely in the middle of the Upper Lake. Its volume is approximately 48 km³ (12 cu mi).^[1]

The lake has two parts: the main east section, called Obersee or "Upper Lake", covers about 473 square kilometres (183 sq mi), to which also its northwestern arm, the Überlinger See (61 km² (24 sq mi)), belongs, and the much smaller west section, summarizingly called Untersee or "Lower Lake", with an area of about 63 square kilometres (24 sq mi).^[1][3]

The connecting part between these two lake parts is the Seerhein (lit.: "Lake Rhine"). Geographically, it is sometimes not considered to be part of the lake, but a river.^[1][4]

The Lower Lake Constance is loosely divided into three sections around the Island of Reichenau: The two German parts, the Gnadensee (lit.: "Lake Mercy") north of the island and north of the peninsula of Mettnau (the Markelfinger Winkel), and the Zeller See, south of Radolfzell and to the northwest of the Reichenau island, and the mainly Swiss Rheinsee (lit.: "Rhine Lake") – not to be mismatched with the Seerhein at its start! – to the south of the island and with its southwestern arm leading to its effluent in Stein am Rhein.^[1][3]

The river water of the regulated Alpine Rhine flows into the lake in the southeast near Bregenz, Austria, then through the Upper Lake Constance hardly targeting the Überlinger See, into the Seerhein in the town of Konstanz, then through the Rheinsee virtually without feeding both German parts of the Lower Lake, and finally feeds the start of the High Rhine in Swiss town Stein am Rhein.^[1][5][3]

The lake itself is an important drinking water source for southwestern Germany.

The culminating point of the lake's drainage basin is the Swiss peak Piz Russein of the Tödi massif of the Glarus Alps at 3,613 metres (11,854 ft) above sea level. It starts with the creek Aua da Russein (lit.: "Water of the Russein").^[6]

Car ferries link Romanshorn, Switzerland, to Friedrichshafen, and Konstanz to Meersburg, all in Germany.^[2][3]

History

Lake Constance was formed by the Rhine Glacier during the ice age and is a zungenbecken lake. After the end of the last glacial period, about 10,000 years ago, the Obersee and Untersee still formed a single lake. The downward erosion of the High Rhine caused the lake level to gradually sink and a sill, the Konstanzer Schwelle, to emerge.

The Rhine, the Bregenzer Ach, and the Dornbirner Ach carry sediments from the Alps to the lake, thus gradually decreasing the depth and coastline extension of the lake in the southeast.

In antiquity the two lakes still had different names; later, for reasons which are unknown, they came to have the same name.

In the 19th century, there were five different local time zones around Lake Constance. Constance, belonging to the Grand Duchy of Baden, adhered to the Karlsruhe time, Friedrichshafen used the time of the Duchy of Württemberg, in Lindau, the Bavarian Munich time was observed, and Bregenz used the Prague time, while the Swiss shore used the Berne time. One would have needed to travel only 46 kilometers to visit five time zones. Given the amount of trade and traffic over Lake Constance, this led to serious confusion. Public clocks in harbors used three different clock faces, depending on the destinations offered by the boat companies. In 1892, all German territories used CET, the Austrian railways introduced CET already in 1891, and Switzerland followed in 1894. Because traffic timetables had not been yet updated, CET became the sole valid time around and on Lake Constance in 1895.^[7]

Name

The Roman geographer, Pomponius Mela, was the first to mention the lake around 43 AD, calling it the Lacus Venetus and the Untersee (the lower portion) Lacus Acronius, the Rhine passing through both. Around 75 AD, The naturalist Pliny the Elder called the entire Lake Constance, Lacus Raetiae Brigantinus after the main Roman town on the lake, Brigantium (later Bregenz). This name is associated with the Celtic Brigantii who lived here, although it is not clear whether the place was named after the tribe or the inhabitants of the region were named after their main settlement. Ammianus Marcellinus later used the form Lacus Brigantiae.^[8]

The current German name of Bodensee derives from the place name Bodman, which probably originally derived from the Old High German bodamon which meant "on the soils", indicating a place on level terrain by the lake.^[9]:500 This place, situated at the west end of Lake Überlingen (Überlinger See), had a more supraregional character for a certain period in the early Middle Ages as a Frankish imperial palace (Königspfalz), Alamannian ducal seat and mint, which is why the name may have been transferred to the lake ("lake, by which Bodman is situated" = Bodmansee). From 833/834 AD, in Latin sources, the name appears in its Latinised form lacus potamicus.^[10] Therefore, the name actually derived from the Bodman Pfalz (Latinized as Potamum) was wrongly assumed by monastic scholars like Walahfrid Strabo to be derived from the Greek word potamos for "river" and meant "river lake". They may also have been influenced by the fact that the Rhine flowed through the lake.^[9]:501ff

Wolfram von Eschenbach describes it in Middle High German as the Bodemensee or Bodemsee^[11] which has finally evolved into the present German name, Bodensee. The name may be linked to that of the Bodanrück, the hill range between Lake Überlingen and the Untersee, and the history of the House of Bodman.

The German name of the lake, Bodensee, has been adopted by many other languages, for example: Dutch: Bodenmeer, Danish: Bodensøen, Norwegian: Bodensjøen, Swedish: Bodensjön, Islandic: Bodenvatn, Finnish: Bodenjärvi, Estonian: Bodeni järv, Lithuanian: Bodeno ežeras, Latvian: Bodenezers, Russian: Боденское озеро, Polish: Jezioro Bodeńskie, Czech: Bodamské jezero, Slovak: Bodamské jazero, Hungarian: Bodeni-tó, Bulgarian: Боденско езеро, Ukrainian: Боденське озеро, Croatian: Bodensko jezero, Albanian: Liqeni i Bodenit. Even in many Asiatic languages, the lake is called the Bodensee e.g. Azerbaijani: Boden gölü, Tatar: Боден күле, Marathi: बोडन से Bōdana sē, Mandarin: Chinese: 波登湖; pinyin: Bódēng-hú, Korean: 보덴 호 Boden-ho, Japanese: ボーデン湖 Bōden-ko.^{[citation needed]}

Location of Lake Constance within the Duchy of Swabia (yellow), 911–1268

After the Council of Constance in the 15th century, the alternative name Lacus Constantinus was used in the (Roman Catholic) Romance language area. This name, which had been attested as early as 1187 in the form Lacus Constantiensis,^[8] came from the town of Konstanz at the outflow of the Rhine from the Obersee, whose original name, Constantia, was in turn derived from the Roman emperor, Constantius Chlorus (around 300 AD). Hence the French: Lac de Constance, Italian: Lago di Costanza, Portuguese: Lago de Constança, Spanish: Lago de Constanza, Romanian: Lacul Constanța, Greek: Λίμνη της Κωνσταντίας – Limni tis Konstantias. The Arabic, بحيرة كونستانس buħaira Konstans and probably the Turkish, Konstanz gölü, probably go back to the French form of the name. Even in Romance-influenced English the name "Lake Constance" gained a foothold and was then exported into other languages such as Hebrew: ימת קונסטנץ yamat Konstanz and Swahili: Ziwa la Konstanz. In many languages both forms exist in parallel e.g. Romansh: Lai da Constanza and Lai Bodan, Esperanto: Konstanca Lago and Bodenlago.^{[citation needed]}

The poetic name, "Swabian Sea" was adopted by authors of the early modern era and the Enlightenment from ancient authors, possibly Tacitus. However, this assumption was based on an error (similar to that of the Teutoburg Forest and the Taunus): the Romans sometimes used the name Mare Suebicum for the Baltic Sea, not Lake Constance. In times when the Romans had located the so-called "Suebi", then an Elbe Germanic tribe near a sea, this was understandable. The authors of the Early Modern Period overlooked this and adopted the name for the largest lake in the middle of the former Duchy of Swabia, which also included parts of today's Switzerland.^[12] Today the name Swabian Sea (Schwäbisches Meer) is only used jocularly as a hyperbolic term for Lake Constance.^[13]

Key facts

No Paleolithic finds have been made in the immediate vicinity of the lake, because the region of Lake Constance was covered for a long time by the Rhine Glacier. The discovery of stone tools (microliths) indicate that hunters and gatherers of the Mesolithic period (Middle Stone Age, 8,000-5,500 BC) frequented the area without settling, however. Only hunting camps have been confirmed. The earliest Neolithic farmers, who belonged to the Linear Pottery culture, also left no traces behind, because the Alpine foreland lay away from the routes along which they had spread during the 6th millennium BC.^[14] This changed only in the middle and late Neolithic when shore settlements were established, the so-called pile dwelling and wetland settlements, which have now been uncovered mainly on Lake Überlingen, the Constance Hopper and on the Obersee. At Unteruhldingen, such a pile dwelling village has been reconstructed and is now accessible as a museum.

Grave finds from Singen am Hohentwiel date to the beginning of the Early Bronze Age and shore settlements were repeatedly built during the Neolithic Period and the Bronze Age (up to 800 BC). During the following Iron Age the settlement history is interrupted. The settlement of the shore of Lake Constance during the Hallstatt period is attested by grave mounds, which today are usually found in forests where they have been protected from the destruction by agriculture. Since the late Hallstatt period, the peoples living on Lake Constance are referred to as the Celts. During the La Tène period from 450 AD, the population density decreases, as can be deduced partly due from the fact that no more grave mounds were built. For the first time, we have written reports on Lake Constance that have survived. Thus, we learn that the Helvetians settled by the lake in the south, the Rhaetians in the area of the Alpine Rhine Valley and the Vindelici in the northeast. The most important places on the lake were Bregenz (Celtic Brigantion) and today's Constance.

In the course of the Roman Alpine campaign of 16/15 BC, the Lake Constance region was integrated into the Roman Empire. During the campaign, there was also supposed to have been a battle on Lake Constance. The geographer, Pomponius Mela, makes the first mention in 43 AD of Lake Constance as two lakes - the Lacus Venetus (Upper Lake) and the Lacus Acronius (Untersee) - with the Rhine flowing through both. Pliny the Elder referred to Lake Constance as Lacus Brigantinus for the first time. The most important Roman site was Bregenz, which soon became subject to Roman municipal law and later became the seat of the Prefect of the Lake Constance fleet. The Romans were also in Lindau, but settled only on the hills around Lindau as the lakeshore was swampy. Other Roman towns were Constantia (Constance) and Arbor Felix (Arbon).

After the borders of the Roman Empire were drawn back to the Rhine boundary in the 3rd century BC, the Alemanni gradually settled on the north shore of Lake Constance and, later, on the south bank as well. After the introduction of Christianity, the cultural significance of the region grew as a result of the founding of Reichenau Abbey and the Bishopric of Constance. Under the rule of the Hohenstaufens, Imperial Diets (Reichstage) were held by Lake Constance. In Constance, too, a treaty was drawn up between the Hohenstaufen emperor and the Lombard League. Lake Constance also played an important role as a trading post for goods being traded between German and Italian states.

During the Thirty Years' War, there were various conflicts over the control of the region during the Lake War (1632-1648).

After the War of the Second Coalition (1798-1802), which also affected the region and during which Austrian and French flotillas operated on Lake Constance, there was a reorganisation of state relationships.

Historical maps

1540 map of the Lake Constance region

• 1540: the map Lacus Constantiensis by Johannes Zwick and Thomas Blarer shows topographic names, towns and the Rhine.^{[citation needed]}
  


• 1555: the map of the route of the Rhine (Rhinelaufkarte) by Caspar Vopel includes a topographical map of Lake Constance with its larger towns, the tributaries and the course of the Rhine.^{[citation needed]}
  


• 1633: the Swabian map by Johannes Janssonius, Amsterdam: Totius Sveviae novissima tabula shows Lake Constance with islands, tributaries, towns and villages.^[15]
  


• 1675: The Lake Constance map, Lacos Acronianus sive Bodamicus, by Nikolaus David Hautt based on Andreas Arzet SJ shows Lake Constance with the adjacent lands.^[16]
  

Geography

Complete lake from the Winterstaude

Divisions

Lake Constance is located in the foothills of the Alps. The shore length of both main lakes is 273 kilometres (170 mi) long. Of this, 173 kilometres (107 mi) are located in Germany (Baden-Württemberg 155 kilometres or 96 miles, Bavaria 18 kilometres or 11 miles), 28 kilometres (17 mi) run through Austria and 72 kilometres (45 mi) through Switzerland.^[17] If the Upper and Lower Lakes are combined, Lake Constance has a total area of 536 km² (207 sq mi), 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)^[18] after Lake Geneva (89 km³ or 21 cu mi or 72,000,000 acre⋅ft) and extends 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), and reaching as far south as Lago di Lei in Italy.^[19]

The area of the Obersee is 473 km² (183 sq mi). It extends 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.

Lake Constance with the Island of Lindau seen from Pfänder in 2007

The three small bays on the Vorarlberg shore have their own names: the Bay of Bregenz, off Hard and Fußach is the Bay of Fussach and, west of that is the Wetterwinkel. Farther west, now in Switzerland, is the Bay of Rorschach. To the north, on the Bavarian side, is the Bay of Reutin. The railway embankment from the mainland to the island of Lindau and the motorway bridge over the lake border the so-called Little Lake (Kleiner See), which is located between the Lindau village of Aeschach and the island.

The northwestern, finger-shaped arm of the Obersee is called Lake Überlingen. It is usually regarded as a separate lake, the boundary between the Obersee and Lake Überlingen runs approximately along the line between the southeast tip of Bodanrück (the Hörnle, which belongs to the town of Konstanz) and Meersburg. The Constance Hopper lies between the German and Swiss shores east of Konstanz.

The Obersee and Untersee are connected by the Seerhein.

The Untersee, which is separated from the Obersee and from its north-west arm, Lake Überlingen, by the large peninsula of Bodanrück, has an area of 63 km² (24 sq mi). It is strongly characterised and divided into different areas by end moraines, various glacial snouts and medial moraines. These various areas of the lake have their own names. North of Reichenau Island is the Gnadensee. West of the island of Reichenau, between the peninsula of Höri and the peninsula of Mettnau is Lake Zell. North of the Mettnau lies the Markelfinger Winkel. The drumlins of the southern Bodanrück continue along the bed of these northern parts of the lake. South of the Reichenau, from Gottlieben to Eschenz, stretches the Rheinsee ("Rhine Lake") with strong Rhine currents in places. Previously this lake part was named Lake Bernang after the village of Berlingen. On most of the maps the name of the Rheinsee is not shown, because this place is best suited for the name of the Untersee.^[20]

Emergence and future

The present-day shape of Lake Constance has resulted from the combination of several factors:

• The tectonic Lake Constance Basin between the Alps and the Jura was created in the Jurassic and Tertiary periods


• The current Alpine Rhine was initially a tributary of the Danube.


• Over time, the basin was captured by the High Rhine as a result of headward erosion (fluvial erosion).
  
  • The capture was not always only along the present Rhine valley; Lake Überlingen marks part of an older valley course.
  
  


• The river valleys were deepened during several cold periods by the Rhine Glacier from the valley of the Alpine Rhine (glacial erosion).


• Behind the present impressive traces of the Würm Ice Age, the effects of older cold periods can no longer be explored in any detail. Lake Constance now represents, above all, a zungenbecken or glacial lake of the Würm Glaciation.^[21]
  


• During a later phase of the ice age, only the Obersee was glaciated. As the glacier retreated further, the glacial meltwaters flowed out of the emerging Überlingen lake through the older more northerly valley into the present High Rhine valley.


• Due to the advancing headward erosion, the present course of the High Rhine was finally (again) reconnected to Lake Constance.^[22]
  

Like any glacial lake, Lake Constance will also become silted up by sedimentation in the near future. This process can best be observed at the mouths of the larger rivers, especially that of the Alpine Rhine. The silting up process is accelerated by ever-increasing erosion by the Rhine and the associated reduction in the level of the lake.

Tributaries

The estuary of the Alpine Rhine on Lake Constance

The main tributary of Lake Constance is the Alpine Rhine. The Alpine Rhine and the Seerhein do not mix greatly with the waters of the lake and flow through the lakes along courses that change relatively little. There are also numerous smaller tributaries (236 in all). The most important tributaries of the Obersee are (counterclockwise) the Dornbirner Ach, Bregenzer Ach, Leiblach, Argen, Schussen, Rotach, Seefelder Aach, Stockacher Aach, Salmsacher Aach, the Aach near Arbon, Steinach, Goldach and the Old Rhine. The outflow of the Obersee is the Seerhein, which in turn is the main tributary of the Untersee. The most important tributary of the Untersee is the Radolfzeller Aach.

Because the Alpine Rhine brings with it drift from the mountains and deposits this material as sediment, the Bay of Bregenz will silt up in a few centuries time. The silting up of the entire Lake Constance is estimated to take another ten to twenty thousand years.

Outflows, evaporation, water extraction

The outflow of the Untersee is the High Rhine with the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen. Both the average precipitation of 0.45 km³/a and evaporation which averages 0.29 km³/a cause a net change in the level of Lake Constance that is less when compared to the influence of the inflows and outflows.^[18] Further quantities of lake water are extracted by municipal waterworks around the lake and the water company of Bodensee-Wasserversorgung.

Islands

The island of Mainau

In Lake Constance there are ten islands that are larger than 2,000 m².

By far the largest is the island of Reichenau in the Untersee, which belongs to the municipality of Reichenau. The former abbey of Reichenau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its three early and highly medieval churches. The island is also known for its intensive cultivation of fruit and vegetables.

The island of Lindau is located in the east of the Obersee, and is the second largest island. On it is the old town and main railway station of Lindau.

The third largest island is Mainau in the southeast of Lake Überlingen. The owners, the family of Bernadotte, have set up the island as a tourist attraction and created botanical gardens and wildlife enclosures.

Relatively large, but uninhabited and inaccessible because of their status as nature reserves, are two islands off the Wollmatinger Ried: the Triboldingerbohl which has an area of 13 ha and Mittler or Langbohl which is just 3 ha in area.

Smaller islands in the Obersee are:

• Dominican Island (Dominikanerinsel) separated by a six-metre-wide ditch from the old town of Constance which is home to the Steigenberger Hotel (2 ha)


• The tiny island of Hoy near Lindau


• The ten artificial islands on the Rhine Causeway on the Fußach side


• The little island by the port of Romanshorn
  


• The Wollschweininsel (officially Wulesaueninsle) by the Seepark in Kreuzlingen
  

In the Untersee are:

• the islands of Werd, Mittleres Werdli and Unteres Werdli which together form the Werd Islands group are located at the outflow of the Rhine from the Untersee at Stein am Rhein into the High Rhine.


• The so-called Liebesinsel ("Love Island", 0.2  ha) southwest of the Mettnau peninsula.

Peninsulas

In Lake Constance there are several peninsulas which vary greatly in size:

• The Bodanrück, the largest peninsula, separates the Obersee (Lake Überlingen) from the Untersee. It covers an area of 112 km².


• The Mettnau in the Untersee, which extends towards the island of Reichenau, separates Lake Zell in the south from the Markelfinger Winkel in the north. It has a surface area of 1.7 km².


• The approximately 45-square-kilometre Höri, which also extends towards the island of Reichenau, separates Lake Zell to the north from the Rheinsee to the south.


• In the southeast, near the mouth of the new Rhine Canal, the Rohrspitz juts out about 1.2 km into the lake and forms the western perimeter of the Bay of Fußach. It has an area of approximately 50 hectares.


• The Wasserburg peninsula has a castle, Schloss Wasserburg, and the parish church of St. George. The peninsula is on the northeastern shore of the Obersee between the Bay of Nonnenhorn in the west and Bay of Wasserburg in the east. It has an area of 2.3 ha and was an island until 1720, when the Fuggers built a causeway. In March 2009, 27 people lived on the peninsula.


• The Galgeninsel ("Gallows Island") in the Bay of Reutin is also a peninsula that was formerly an island. It is only 0.16 hectares in area.

Shore

Sandy beach at the Marienschlucht

The shores of Lake Constance consist mainly of gravel. In some places there are also sandy beaches, such as the Rohrspitz in the Austrian section of the lake, the Langenargen and Marienschlucht.

According to the data of the International Water Protection Commission for the Lake Constance, the approximate shore length is 273 km (see Coastline paradox). The inflow of water is constantly changing, mainly due to rain and the snow melt in the Alps. Its average surface area is approximately 395 m above NN (in Switzerland the absolute value is slightly higher in m above sea level). The more or less regular seasonal fluctuations in the water level also lead to slight variations in shore length and differences in the shore zone habitats (depending on high and low water).

Climate

Summer storm – view of the Luitpold Barracks in Lindau

The climate of the Lake Constance area is characterised by mild temperatures with moderate gradients, thanks to the balancing and retarding effect of the large body of water. However, due to the year-round influence of föhn winds which causes frequent fog in winter and close weather in summer, it is considered a stressful climate.

Waves raised by föhn winds on the lake

Frozen lake surface: skating in the Markelfinger Winkel

Lake Constance is also considered to be a risky and challenging lake for water sports because of the danger of gusty winds which can whip up waves as the weather changes suddenly. The most dangerous wind is the föhn, a warm down-slope wind from the Alps, which spreads out across the water, especially through the Alpine Rhine Valley and can generate waves several metres high.

Similarly dangerous for those unfamiliar with the area, are the sudden stormy gusts of wind during summer thunderstorms. They constantly claim victims from the water sports fraternity. During a thunderstorm in July 2006, waves reached heights of up to 3.50 metres.

For these reasons, there is a storm warning system in all three neighbouring countries. For storm warning purposes, Lake Constance is divided into three warning regions (west, centre and east). Warnings can be issued for each region independently. A "high winds" warning will be issued when squalls are expected of between 25 and 33 knots or registering force 6 to 8 on the Beaufort scale. A gale warning announces the likelihood of gale-force winds, i.e. those at speeds as of 34 knots or more or force 8 on the Beaufort scale. In order to issue these warnings, orange-coloured flashing lights are installed around the lake, which flash at a frequency of 40 times per minute for high winds or 90 times per minute for gales. It can happen that, due to the differently regulated responsibilities and assessments, a gale warning is issued on the Swiss side of the Obersee, but not on the German or Austrian shores, and vice versa. Ships and ferries on Lake Constance indicate a gale warning by hoisting a Sturmballon ("storm ball") up the mast.

A one-hundred year event is the freezing over of Lake Constance, when the Untersee, Lake Überlingen and the Obersee are completely frozen over so that people can safely cross the lake on foot. The three last so-called Seegfrörne events were in 1963, 1880 and 1830.

Certain parts of the lake freeze over more frequently, mainly due to their shallow depth of water and shelter, as is the case, for example, of the so-called Markelfinger Winkel between the municipality of Markelfingen and the Mettnau peninsula.

International borders

Lake Constance, seen from a vineyard

There is no legally binding agreement as to where the borders lie between Switzerland, Germany and Austria.^[25] However, Switzerland holds the view that the border runs through the middle of the lake, Austria is of the opinion that the contentious area belongs to all the states on its banks, which is known as a "condominium", and Germany holds an ambiguous opinion.^[26] Legal questions pertaining to ship transport and fishing are regulated in separate treaties.

Naturally, disputes arise. One concerns a houseboat which was moored in two states (ECJ c. 224/97 Erich Ciola); another concerns the rights to fish in the Bay of Bregenz. In relation to the latter, an Austrian family was of the opinion that it alone had the right to fish in broad portions of the bay. However, this was accepted neither by the Austrian courts nor by the organs and courts of the other states.^[27]

Floods

• A 100-year flood around June 1999 (Pfingsthochwasser 1999) raised the level about 2 metres above normal, flooding harbors and many shoreline buildings and hotels.


• In late August 2005, heavy rain raised the level by more than 70 cm in a few days. The rains caused widespread flooding and washed out highways and railroads.

Flooding on the shore of Lake Constance, May 2013

Ecology

Flora

Until the 19th century, Lake Constance was a natural lake. Since then, nature has been heavily influenced by clearing and the cultivation of much of the land around its shores. However, some near-natural areas have been largely conserved, especially in the nature reserves, or were re-naturalised. As a result, the Lake Constance region has some unusual ecological features. These include the large forested area on the Bodanrück, the occurrence of marsh gentian and orchids of the genera Dactylorhiza and Orchis in the Wollmatinger Ried, and the Siberian iris (Iris sibirica) in the Eriskircher Ried, which was therefore given its own name.^[28] One unique species among the local flora is the Lake Constance forget-me-not (Myosotis rehsteineri), whose habitat is restricted to undisturbed beaches of lime trees.

Fauna

Birds

The Mettnau Peninsula

Lake Constance is also the home of numerous species of birds, many of which next in its nature reserves, such as the Wollmatinger Ried or the Mettnau peninsula. 412 species have so far been recorded.^[29]

Songbirds

The ten most common breeding bird species at Lake Constance according to a 2000-2003 survey in descending order are the: blackbird, chaffinch, starling, robin, chiffchaff, greenfinch, and blue tit.^[30]

Waterfowl

Coot in Hard am Bodensee

In spring, the Lake Constance is an important breeding ground, especially for the coot and great crested grebe.^[31] Typical waterfowl include the: shoveler , goldeneye, goosander, pochard, grey heron, pintail, tufted duck and mallard.^[32]

In December 2014, 1,389 cormorant were counted. The International Lake Constance Fishery Association (IBF) estimates the food requirements of the cormorants on Lake Constance at 150 tonnes of fish annually.^[33]

Overwintering

Lake Constance is an important overwintering area for around 250,000 birds.^[34] annually. Bird species such as the dunlin, the curlew and the lapwing overwinter at Lake Constance.^[35] In the middle of December 2014 there were 56,798 heron, 51,713 coot and 43,938 pochard.^[33] In November/December are about 10,000 to 15,000 red-crested pochard and 10,000 great crested grebe on Lake Constance.^[36]

Migration

During migration in late autumn there are also numerous loon on the lake (black-throated and red-throated loon, as well as a few great northern divers). Lake Constance is also very important as a staging post during the bird migration. Bird migration is often inconspicuous and most noticeable when there are special weather conditions that make day migration obvious. Only where there is a prolonged spell of widespread low-pressure is it common to observe the congestion of large groups of migratory birds. This can often be observed in autumn on the Eriskircher Ried on the northern shore of Lake Constance. This is where broad front migration converges on the lake and birds then try to move along the shore towards the northwest. The importance of Lake Constance as an important area for resting and overwintering is underlined by the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology's Radolfzell Bird Observatory (Vogelwarte Radolfzell), which is the bird ringing centre for the German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Rhineland-Palatinate and the Saarland as well as for Austria, and which researches bird migration.^[37]

Fish

Around 45 species of fish live in Lake Constance. The annual haul from fishing is 1.5 million kg. Unusual species occurring here considering the location of the lake are the whitefish (Coregonus spec.) and the Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Fish that are important for the fishing industry are:

• 
  Bodenseefelchen (German: also Blaufelchen, Lat.: Coregonus wartmanni)


• 
  Sandfelchen (German: also Weißfelchen, Lat.: Coregonus arenicolus)


• 
  Gangfisch (Lat.: Coregonus macrophthalmus)


• 
  Lake Constance whitefish (German: Kilch, Lat.: Coregonus gutturosus)


• 
  Grayling (German: Äsche, Lat.: Thymallus thymallus)


• 
  Perch (German: Flussbarsch, Kretzer, Barschling, Swiss German: Egli, Lat.: Perca fluviatilis)


• 
  Bream (German: Brachse, Brasse, Lat.: Abramis brama)


• 
  Northern pike (German: Hecht]] (Lat.: Esox lucius)
  


• 
  Zander (Lat.: Sander lucioperca)


• 
  Burbot (German: Quappe, Trüsche, Lat.: Lota lota)^[38]
  


• 
  Eel (German: Aal, Lat.: Anguilla Anguilla)


• 
  Bullhead (German: Groppe, Lat.: Cottus gobio)


• 
  Tench (German: Schleie, Lat.: Tinca tinca)


• 
  Wels catfish (German: Wels, Lat.: Silurus glanis)


• 
  Lake trout (German: Seeforelle, Lat.: Salmo trutta lacustris).

The Bodenseefelchen (Coregonus wartmanni), which was named after Lake Constance due to the great numbers found there, is often prepared whole or as a fillet, in the style of the miller's wife (nach Müllerin Art), in local fish restaurants in a similar way to other trout^[39] It is also often served smoked.

The endemic species, formerly found in Lake Constance, the Bodensee-Kilch (Coregonus gutturosus) and deepwater char (Salvelinus profundus) are now assumed to be extinct.^[40]

Introduced species

For many years non-native species have settled in the Lake Constance ecosystem and, in some cases, endangered or threatened native flora and fauna. At Lake Constance, non-native species have been increasing annually. Several have been transported from other waterbodies as 'blind passengers' on the outside of boats, life jackets, anchor chains or ropes or diving gear.^[41] Others have immigrated from the Black Sea or the Danube since the opening of the Main-Danube Canal. Others have been deliberately introduced.^[42]

Well-known non-native species

Even the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is not a native fish. It was introduced into Lake Constance around 1880 for economic reasons to enhance the local fauna.^[43]

Among the foreign species of animal in Lake Constance are the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) which, since the 18th century, has spread from the Black Sea region across most of Europe and was carried into Lake Constance between 1960 and 1965. After a huge increase in numbers during the 1980s in the Rhine and large lakes, this species is now in retreat today. The zebra mussel causes problems because, among other things, it blocks water extraction pipes. In addition, the species can be a disaster for domestic shellfish, because it competes for their food.^[44] Today, according to the Institute for Lake Research (Institut für Seenforschung, ISF), the zebra mussel is also an important food for overwintering waterfowl. In fact, the number of overwinterers has more than doubled in around 30 years.^[43]

The killer shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus) has spread since 2002 from two sections of shoreline near Hagnau and Immenstaad, over the whole Lake Überlingen (2004), the whole of the Obersee (2006) and almost the whole Lake Constance and Rheinsee shore (2007).^[45] As its name implies, it is a voracious burglar of fish larvae and fish eggs.^[43]

The most recent example is the little opossum shrimp (Limnomysis benedeni), only six to eleven millimeters long, which was found in 2006 in the Vorarlberg region of Hard, and can now be found almost all over Lake Constance.^[43] It comes from the waters around the Black Sea. It was presumably first transported by ships up the Danube before it spread into the Rhine river system and entered Lake Constance. The opossum shrimp, which occurs in many places in shoals of several million in winter, are already an influential link in the food chain in Lake Constance. They consume dead animal and plant material as well as phytoplankton, but are also eaten by fish themselves.^[44]

Today, in western Lake Constance are found: the North American spinycheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus), which was introduced into European waters in the mid-19th century to increase the yield,^[43] occasionally the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), and in the lake's tributaries, the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusulus). As these species of large crayfish are immune to crayfish plague, but spread the pathogen, they are a great danger to native species such as noble crayfish, white-clawed crayfish or stone crayfish. The animals are often undemanding, multiply rapidly and lead predatory lives, thus also posing a threat to various small species of fish.^[44] The ISF has been systematically researching the subject since 2003.^[43]

Wrecks on the lake bed

After a collision with the Stadt Zürich in 1864 the wreck of the Jura has lain on the lake bed at a depth of 45 metres off the Swiss shore. In the early 20th century four ships were sunk in the Obersee after being taken out of service: in 1931 the Baden, formerly the Kaiser Wilhelm, in 1932 the Helvetia, in 1933 the Säntis and in 1934 the Stadt Radolfzell. The hull of the burnt-out Friedrichshafen was scuttled in 1944 off the mouth of the Argen in 100 to 150 metres of water.^[46][47]

Tourism, leisure and sports

The tourism and leisure industry is an important factor for this region. Overnight stays reached 17,56m visitors in 2012 with an turnover of about 1.9bn Euros. The same amount comes from the 70 million daily visitors that visit Lake Constance each year.^[48]

Lake Constance seen from Spot satellite.

This region is known for sightseeing, water-sports, winter-sports like Skiing, summer-sports like Swimming (sport), Sailing and recreation. It is also one of the few places where modern Zeppelin airships operate and 12-14 people can take a trip above the lake around various points of interests.^[49]

In cooperation with tourism service providers, tourism organizations and public institutions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the International Bodensee Tourismus GmbH (IBT GmbH)^[50] is responsible for the tourism marketing of the Lake Constance region.

Sights and cultural heritage

The lake and the region around it have a substantial touristic infrastructure as well as many attractions and points of interests. Important are especially cities like Konstanz, Überlingen, Meersburg, Friedrichshafen, Lindau and Bregenz as they are the big hubs for boating tourism. The main tourism attractions are places like Rhine Falls, one of the three biggest waterfalls in Europe, the Mainau Island and Reichenau Island (UNESCO world heritage), the pilgrimage church Birnau, castles and palaces like Salem Abbey, Meersburg Castle as well as another UNESCO world heritage site, the Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen (German for 'Stilt house museum) as well as Church of St. George, Oberzell, Reichenau.

In the east of the lake, the Alps are reaching almost to it thus allowing a great view over the lake. The Pfänderbahn goes from top of the mountain right down, next to the lake in Bregenz.

Cultural events

Furthermore, Lake Constance is the location for the annual Bregenzer Festspiele, a well known arts festival that also takes place on a floating stage in Bregenz. Opera and music performances generally tend to come from popular pieces and among contributors are top music bands like the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.

Biking

Biking around the lake is also possible on the 261 km (162 mi) long trail called "Bodensee-Radweg". It brings its visitors to the most interesting sites and goes around the whole lake. Nevertheless, various shortcuts via ferries allow shorter routes and the trail is suitable for all levels.^[51] Note: There is also a trail that goes by the name "Bodensee-Rundweg".^[52] This road was intended for pedestrians so biking is sometimes not suitable or allowed.

Hiking and pilgrim trails

Sign of the "Lake Constanze circular route"

The 260 kilometers long Lake Constance circular route, signposted as "Bodensee Rundwanderweg", leads around Lake Constance through the territories of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is mainly intended for hiking, cyclists follow the sometimes slightly different managed Lake Constance cycle path.^[53] The trail is very good walkable in smaller stages of different lengths and offers nice views of the lake, landscape and wildlife.

Nevertheless, not the whole coast zones are accessible due to industrial settlements, buildings and nature reserves. Also in the estuary of the rivers, such the Leiblach, Bregenzer Ach, canalized Rhine and Old Rhine (Fußacher breakthrough) considerable distances have to be covered inland to the next bridge or river crossing point. Due to busy riverside roads, the Bodensee-Rundweg sometimes runs as a trail above the lake with some lookout possibilities.

Lake Constance is also a hub for long-distance hikers and pilgrims. It has been a crucial reference point of important pilgrimage routes since ancient times:^[54]

• Via Beuronensis, a Way of St. James from the Neckar region over the Swabian Alb^[55]
  


• the Upper Swabian pilgrimage-route of St. James, which leads from Upper Swabia to the lake and branches north of the lake both in the direction of Nonnenhorn and in the direction of Meersburg
  


• the bavarian-swabian route of St. James, which leads down from the West Allgäu to the lake


• the Schwabenweg, which ensures the connection to Switzerland to the lake near Konstanz^[56]
  

Swimming

Swimming in the lake is usually possible from mid-June to mid-September. Depending on the weather, the water temperatures reach 19 to 25 °C (66.2 to 77.0 °F). Within one day, differences of up to 3 °C (5.4 °F) are possible with appropriate sunlight, so that the lake invites to swim, especially on warm summer evenings.^[57]

Diving

Diving spot "devils table" at Lake Constanze

Diving in Lake Constance is considered attractive and challenging. Most of the diving areas are located in the northern part of the lake (Überlingen, Ludwigshafen, Marienschlucht and others), a few also in the south.^[58] The areas should be dived exclusively by experienced divers under the guidance of one of the local diving schools or a seasoned diver. Diving at some spots like the impressive devils table ("Teufelstisch") called rock needle in the lake in front of the Marienschlucht, is only allowed after approval by the district office Konstanz.

The most famous freshwater wreck in Europe is certainly the paddle steamer Jura, which lies in front of Bottighofen at a depth of 39 metres (128 feet). The Canton of Thurgau, the office for archeology in Frauenfeld, has placed the Jura under protection as an underwater industrial monument.^[59]

For all divers, it should be noted that the water in Lake Constance - even in summer - is already below 10 °C (50 °F) from a depth of ten metres (thirty-two point eight feet) which requires suitable cold-water regulators that do not freeze at such temperatures.

Boating, recreational boating

"Rund-um" (All-Around) Regatta next to Lindau

The importance of pleasure boating is enormous. At the beginning of 2011, 57,875 amusement vehicles were registered for Lake Constance.^[60]

The legal basis for all shipping on the lake is the ordinance on shipping on Lake Constance, or "Bodensee-Schifffahrtsordnung". It is monitored on Lake Constance and on the Upper Rhine by the German, Swiss and Austrian Water Police/ "Seepolizei".

All boats must be registered and boat drivers must hold a "Bodenseeschifferpatent" (Authorization to drive a patented vehicle on Lake Constance). It is awarded in Germany by the shipping offices of the district of Constance, the Lake Constance district and the district of Lindau, in Switzerland by the cantonal authorities and in Austria by the District Commission Bregenz. For pleasure boaters short-term guest licenses are possible (for the categories A for motorboats over 4.4 kW and D for sailboats over 12 m² sail area).

Boating events

• Since 1979, every year to the assumption of Mary, Europe's largest ship procession is held on Lake Constance.^[61]
  


• Every year (early summer) the spectacular all-around (!Rund-um") Regatta from Lindau to Lindau via Meersburg, Überlingen, Romanshorn is organized.^[62]
  


• Since 2009, the annual water sports and sailing festival "International Lake Constanze week", a joint sports event takes place in Konstanz.


• In Friedrichshafen, one of the most important water sports fairs in Europe, the Interboot, takes place annually.^[63]
  

Settlements on the lake

The steamboat, Hohentwiel

View from the Pfänder hill of Bregenz and the lake (with Lindau in the background)

Reichenau seen from the German shore

Lake Constance from Lindau

Twilight near Arbon

The Lower Lake (Untersee)

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) and Überlinger See
  
  
  
  • 
    Lindau (in Bavaria)
  
  
  • Wasserburg
  
  
  • Nonnenhorn
  
  
  • 
    Kressbronn (in Baden-Württemberg)
  
  
  • Langenargen
  
  
  • Eriskirch
  
  
  • Friedrichshafen
  
  
  • Immenstaad
  
  
  • Hagnau
  
  
  • Stetten
  
  
  • Meersburg
  
  
  • 
    Uhldingen-Mühlhofen (on Überlinger See)
  
  
  • Überlingen
  
  
  • Sipplingen
  
  
  • Bodman-Ludwigshafen
  
  
  
  


• 
  Konstanz with suburbs
  
  
  
  • Wallhausen
  
  
  • Dingelsdorf
  
  
  • Litzelstetten
  
  
  
  


• On the lower lake (Untersee)
  
  
  
  • 
    Reichenau (including the island with same name)
  
  
  • 
    Allensbach (on the Gnadensee)
  
  
  • 
    Radolfzell (on the Zellersee)
  
  
  • Moos
  
  
  • Gaienhofen
  
  
  • Öhningen
  
  
  
  

Switzerland

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

• On the Upper Lake (Obersee)
  
  
  
  • 
    Altenrhein, St. Gallen
    
  
  
  • Rorschach, St. Gallen
  
  
  • 
    Horn, Thurgau
    
  
  
  • 
    Steinach, St. Gallen
    
  
  
  • 
    Arbon, Thurgau (as all the following)
  
  
  • Frasnacht
  
  
  • Egnach
  
  
  • Romanshorn
  
  
  • Uttwil
  
  
  • Kesswil
  
  
  • Güttingen
  
  
  • Altnau
  
  
  • Landschlacht
  
  
  • Münsterlingen
  
  
  • Bottighofen
  
  
  • 
    Kreuzlingen (and Konstanz, Germany)
  
  
  
  


• On the Rhine
  
  • Gottlieben
  
  


• On the Lower Lake (Untersee)
  
  
  
  • Ermatingen
  
  
  • Mannenbach
  
  
  • Berlingen
  
  
  • Steckborn
  
  
  • Mammern
  
  
  • Eschenz
  
  
  • 
    Stein am Rhein, Schaffhausen
    
  
  
  
  

Fishing

The lake was frozen in the years 1077 (?), 1326 (partial), 1378 (partial), 1435, 1465 (partial), 1477 (partial), 1491 (partial?), 1517 (partial), 1571 (partial), 1573, 1600 (partial), 1684, 1695, 1709 (partial), 1795, 1830, 1880 (partial), and 1963.

Approximately 1,000 tonnes (1,100 short tons) of fish were caught by 150 professional fishermen in 2001 which was below the previous ten year average of 1,200 tonnes (1,300 short tons) per year. The Lake Constance trout (Salmo trutta) was almost extinct in the 1980s due to pollution, but thanks to protective measures they have made a significant return. Lake Constance is the home of the critically endangered species of trout Salvelinus profundus,^[64] and formerly also the now extinct Lake Constance whitefish (Coregonus gutturosus).^[65]

See also

• Überlingen mid-air collision


• Württembergischer Yacht Club


• 
  Lake Constance is also the title of a track from Mike Oldfield's The Millennium Bell album

Notes and references

Notes

References

Further reading

• 
  Zimmermann, Rolf (2004), A Look at Lake Constance, Konstanz, Germany: Stadler Verlagsgesellschaft, ISBN 3-7977-0507-7 (Pictures and texts of the cities around Lake Constance).

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Constance.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lake Constance.

• 
   "Constance, Lake of" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 6 (11th ed.). 1911.
  


• Karl Heinz Burmeister: Lake Constance in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, 2007-06-11.


• 
  Nixdorf, B.; et al. (2004), "Bodensee", Dokumentation von Zustand und Entwicklung der wichtigsten Seen Deutschlands (in German), Berlin: Umweltbundesamt, p. 4
  


• 
  Bodensee-Hochwasser (in German) waterlevels


• Internationale Bodenseekonferenz


• Regio Bodensee Statistics


• Lake Constance: pictures


• Photos of Lake Constance


• 
  Bibliography on Water Resources and International Law Peace Palace Library


• GrenzRaumSee: A project from the Ludwig-Uhland-Institut für Empirische Kulturwissenschaft (Ludwig-Uhland-Department of European Ethnology / Empirical Cultural Science) of the University of Tübingen


• Lake Constance/Bodensee Lessons learned managing the lake


• Lake Constance Accommodation


• Tourist Information Lake Constance