Bodensee

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Bodensee

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Bodensee: The Great Lake

Bodensee in German language and Lake Constance in English is situated at the foot of the Alps towards the northern side. This lake lies on the Rhine, the European river. This lake consists of three water bodies- Obersee, Untersee and Seerhein. The Obersee in German is known as the upper lake, the Untersee is known as the lower lake whereas the Seerhein is one connecting stretch which is located on the Rhine.

The lake is located in three countries- Austria, Switzerland and Germany. The shoreline of Bodensee lies in Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria in Germany, Voralberg in Austria and Schaffhausen, Saint Gallen and Thurgau in Switzerland. The southern side of Bodensee is the place from where the Rhine River flows into it.

The Bodensee is placed third as the largest lake in the whole of Central Europe and is placed after Lake Geneva and Lake Balaton. The length of this lake is thirty-nine miles and the largest width of this lake is around fourteen kilometer. The total area of land covered by this lake is two hundred twenty miles and is situated three hundred ninety meters above the sea level. Located in the Obersee, is the lake’s largest depth, measuring about eight hundred twenty-seven feet. The finishing point of the Bodensee is located in Todi and is approximately three thousand six hundred and fourteen meters above the sea level.

For the southwestern Germany, the Bodensee is extremely important, as it provides the place with potable water. Car ferries which link Friedrichshafen to Romanshorn and Meersburg to Konstanz can be found in this lake.

History

Bodensee was created during the last Ice Age when the melting of the Rhine glacier began. Dornbirner Ache, Bregenzer Ache and the Rhine itself carried sediments from the Alps to this lake. This phenomenon helped in the growth of coastline and in the decrease of depth of the lake towards the southeastern direction.

In and around 43 AD, Pomponius Mela, a Roman geographer, mentioned about Bodensee for the first time. He observed that the river Rhine crossed two lakes, naming them as Lacus Venetus or the Obersee Lacus Acronius or the Untersee. Today’s Bregenz was named as Lacus Brigantinus by Pliny the Elder, taking its name after Brigantium, a Roman city. Bodensee is also sometimes called as Swabia Sea.

In the year 2001, around one thousand tonnes of fish was caught in this lake. This lake is famous for a trout named after the lake itself. This fish, however, was on the verge of extension due to heavy pollution but was timely save die the intervention of authorities. Coregonus gutturosus or Lake Constance whitefish and Salvelinus profundus which are now extinct, were once the proud members of this lake.

Naming

The Latin-Catholic speaking groups in the world decided to name the lake after Council of Constance. This is a fifteenth century council which is recognized by the Roman Catholic Church itself. The name of this lake is derived from Konstanz, a city which is named after Constantius Chlorus and Constantius the Second (his grandson), the Roman emperors.

The name Bodensee is taken from the town, Bodman which is located eight kilometers to the northwestern side of the city of Konstanz.

Islands on Bodensee

There are three main islands located on the Bodensee:

  • Mainau Island

This island is located on the Lake Constance. It is situated on the southern shore of Uberlinger See which is situated near Konstanz in Germany. The primary purpose of this island is to maintain itself as a garden, which serves as a model for good environmental practices. Since the year 1971, this island is a part of the city, Konstanz. The Mainau Island is the property of Lennart Bernadotte Foundation which is owned by a prince named Lennart Bernadotte who is also the Wisborg Count. He was formerly a prince in Sweden and a duke in Smaland.

Mainau is considered as the ‘flowering island’. This island is most prominent among tourists for its gardens and parks. The arboretum in the island is created by Frederick the First. This place contains five hundred species of coniferous and deciduous trees. The Sequoiadendron giganteum planted in the year 1864 and Metasequoia glyptostroboides planted in 1952 are the central attraction of this arboretum.

One of the other highlight of this place include the Rose Garden designed in Italian architecture. This place contains fountains, sculptures and pergolas all laid out in geometrical patterns. This garden contains around five hundred varieties of roses. The Mediterranean walkways include pot plants such as bougainvillea, cacti, agaves and, palm trees.

  • Reichenau Island

This island is located on the southern side of Germany in Bodensee. It lies between Bodensee’s two parts: Untersee and Gnadensee. A causeway connects Reichenau Island with Konstanz. This causeway was finished in the year 1838. Bruckgraben which is ten meters wide connects the east end of the island with Schopflen a former castle. The highest point of this island is the Hochwart. The height of this island is approximately 438 m or forty-three meters above the surface of the lake.

The Reichenau Island, in the year 2000, was commemorated as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO (UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION). This was done keeping in mind the Reichenau Abbey which is a monastery located on the island. The abbey’s Minster is devoted to Saint Mark and the Virgin. Two churches were later erected in the castle dedicated to Saint Georg and, Paul and Saint Peter. The most prominent artwork consist of Ottonian mural which depict the miracles shown by Christ. These murals have survived the test of time, dating back to tenth century. The oldest building built entirely of timber of South Germany is located here. It is here that the bailiff of the abbey lived. This place was built in the fourteenth century.

If you go now, the Island of Reichenau Island, is famous for vegetable farms. Next to the Reichenau Island, there is a huge nature preserve, named as Willmatinger Ried. During the annual migration, many birds halt at this location to feed on the reeds growing in this wetland area.

  • Lindau Island

This island is one of the most prominent town in this region and is located east of the Bodensee. It is the capital of County Lindau or the Landkreis, which is located in the Bavarian region of Germany. This place is placed on the borders of Switzerland and Austria. Linde, from which the island’s name is inspired is the linden tree.

This place takes its name from the Lindauer surname belonging to the regions of Czech Republic, Austria, Alsace- Lorraine, Switzerland and Germany. One family belonging to the Jewish religion, bearing the same title is believed to have come from Suskind in the region of Lindau. The family was however, killed in 1430’s pogrom. Lindauer is also a wine brand belonging to New Zealand. However, one cannot find any relations between the name of the island and the wine. The name of this wine brand is derived from the name of the famous painter, Gottfried Lindauer.

Must visit places in the Island of Lindau are:

–    Saint Stephan’s Church: this is a church of the Evangelic sect, which was built in the year 1180 and was remodeled in the year 1782.

–    Saint Peter’s Church: This church was found in the year 1000 AD. In the year 1928, this church became a war memorial.

–    Book Archives: this old book archive contains rare and important book from the fifteenth to eighteenth century. This place is located within the town hall of Lindau.

–    Hoyerberg: This place located near the Hoyerberg Castle will give you a beautiful view of the Lindau Island along with the surrounding areas.

 

Other Popular Sights in and around Bodensee

  • Santis Cableway

The city of Santis is considered as one of the most beautiful places in the entire Europe, dues its natural settings. If you are here, then you can explore this beautiful place using this cableway. The catch of this ride is that this cableway is operated on all the days through the year and on all the weathers. On the top of Santis, which can be reached through this cableway, you can discover a shop, Appenzell hall of events, two beautiful panoramic restaurants, mountain trails, sun decks and a mesmerizing viewing hall.

  • Zeppelin Flight

The engines of the beautiful Zeppelin NT, takes off silently and reached to a whopping altitude of three hundred meters. One you are on board and in air you can unfasten your seatbelts, look over the shoulder of the pilot or just take a stroll around, enjoying the beauty of Lake Constance or Bodensee with the help of the panoramic windows of the Zeppelin NT. Once up, you can also enjoy the beauty of the carried landscape beginning from palaces and castles to green Allgau.

There are a total of twelve routes around Bodensee or Lake Constance, and a few city trips within Germany.

  • The Rhine Falls

About two million tourists every year, make their pilgrimage up the Schaffhausen to watch the roaring yet serene waters of the river Rhine. This is one of the reason that Schaffhausen is sometimes known as the ‘City of the Rhine Falls’. It is estimated that an average of seven lakh liters of water tumbles down every second at these falls. Nature is certainly the most dangerous here, yet the beauty is breathtaking.

  • Saint Gall’s Abbey Cathedral

Saint Gall’s Abbey Cathedral is a UNESCO (UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION) certified world heritage site. Apart from the beautiful cathedral, tourists can witness the abbey library and the monastery building that surround the cathedral. In the year 1983, UNESCO (UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION), declared all the three as world heritage sites, naming it as the District of Saint Gallen Abbey. This abbey was originally constructed as a small hermitage by a monk named Gallus in 612 AD. Today, this complex is designed in magnificent baroque complex and is widely known in the world beyond Switzerland.

  • Thermal Spa

If you are in Konstanz district located at the Bodensee, you can have a relaxing time here at the Lake Constance thermal spa. You can get varied kinds of pleasure by using the flow channels, massage jets and bubble loungers. The spa also has its own swimming pier, using which, you can take a dip in Bodensee or Lake Constance.

  • Christmas Market

If you are in the Principality of Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria or Germany to enjoy Christmas festivities, then look no further apart from Bodensee or Lake Constance. The scent of mulled wine and cinnamon fill the air on the one hand, while on the other, craftsmen present their traditional skill in the markets. The impressive atmosphere here at the Christmas market, makes both children and adult dream alike.