Argen
Encyclopedia
The Argen is a river in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It flows into Lake Constance
between Kressbronn am Bodensee
and Langenargen
as the third largest tributary to the lake. It is 23.4 km long; if one includes the Upper Argen, the combined length is 51.4 km.
. There are two headwaters: the Upper Argen and the Lower Argen. The two arms wrap around the Große Kreisstadt
of Wangen im Allgäu
and meet each other in the Neuravensburg district of Wangen im Allgäu.
at about in the Allgäu region of Bavaria. From the confluence, it first flows north to Isny im Allgäu
, then northwest to Waltershofen, then southwest to Primisweiler. Past Primisweiler, it merges with the Upper Argen.
The main tributaries are the Wengener Argen and the Haslach.
The Federal highway A96
crosses it a number of times.
in the Allgäu and initially flows through a gorge named Eistobel, then underneath the Argentobelbrücke, then past Grünenbach
towards Wangen im Allgäu
. From there it goes on via Neuravensburg to Pflegelberg, where it is united with the Lower Argen.
, the Argen has cut a deep and wide valley into the landscape, which has led to place names such as Gitzensteig. In some place, the valley is over a kilometer wide. The edges of the valley rise steeply up to 100 meters in places and the valley floor is at the level of Lake Constance.
Further down its course, the river bed becomes increasingly broad. The river here flows past the villages of Laimnau, Apflau and Badhütten. In the lower part of its course, the Argen was straightened considerably. Oxbow lake
s no longer exist because of the intensive agriculture of the valley. In recent years at least the massive concrete walls alongside the river have been replaced in most of the shallower zones by large stones. Near the estuary
at Kressbronn, gravel will be mined in larger quantities, creating new lakes along the river.
can be found in the woods above the river.
is flanked on both sides with ports or pleasure boats. On the left, we also find a camping grounds, name Gohren. Another camping grounds can be at Laimnau, next to a restaurant. Further leasure facilities can be found in this area.
At its mouth, the Argen is 30 meters wide, which is fairly wide for such a short river. Depending on the weather, is may have a large discharge as well. To defend against floods, protective walls have been constructed along the river.
Kayaking
is possible; bathing facilities are available.
Tübingen
. The zero level for this station is at .
by the Regional Council of Tübingen
on 16 December 1997. Its official name is Naturschutzgebiet Argen and it is registered as reserve number 4282. The reserve covers the area between the confluence of the Upper and Lower Argen Argentina and the mouth into Lake Constance. It includes the river, including the steep slopes, floodplain forest and swamp forests, valleys and flood embankments. 234.8 hectares of the reserve are in the Bodenseekreis
district; 61.54 hectares in the Ravensburg
district.
, a Carolingian
county named Argungowe (i.e. Argen County
) existed from the end of the 8th century.
Lake Constance
Lake Constance is a lake on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps, and consists of three bodies of water: the Obersee , the Untersee , and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, called the Seerhein.The lake is situated in Germany, Switzerland and Austria near the Alps...
between Kressbronn am Bodensee
Kressbronn am Bodensee
Kressbronn am Bodensee is a commune and a village in the district of Bodensee in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
and Langenargen
Langenargen
Langenargen is a town in the district of Bodensee in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.- Sports :Langenargen is an ideal venue for sports such as sailing. The town's location on the shores of Bodensee provides smooth waters even when windy. Langenargen is the host city of Match Race Germany part of the...
as the third largest tributary to the lake. It is 23.4 km long; if one includes the Upper Argen, the combined length is 51.4 km.
Course
The headwaters of the Argen rise in the AllgäuAllgäu
The Allgäu is a southern German region in Swabia. It covers the south of Bavarian Swabia and southeastern Baden-Württemberg. The region stretches from the prealpine lands up to the Alps...
. There are two headwaters: the Upper Argen and the Lower Argen. The two arms wrap around the Große Kreisstadt
Große Kreisstadt
Große Kreisstadt is a term in the German municipal law. In some German federal states the term is used as a special legal status for district-affiliated cities or towns with additional competences in comparison with other municipalities or towns of the district. The title is based on souvereign...
of Wangen im Allgäu
Wangen im Allgäu
Wangen im Allgäu is a historic city in southeast Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It lies north-east of Lake Constance in the Westallgäu. It is the second-largest city in the Ravensburg district and is a nexus for the surrounding communities...
and meet each other in the Neuravensburg district of Wangen im Allgäu.
Lower Argen
The origin of the Lower Argen is the confluence of Börlasbach and Stixnerbach at the western entrance to MissenMissen-Wilhams
Missen-Wilhams is a municipality in the district of Oberallgäu in Bavaria....
at about in the Allgäu region of Bavaria. From the confluence, it first flows north to Isny im Allgäu
Isny im Allgäu
Isny im Allgäu is a town in south-eastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is part of the district of Ravensburg, in the western, Württembergish part of the Allgäu region. For nearly 1000 years, Isny was an important town within the Holy Roman Empire...
, then northwest to Waltershofen, then southwest to Primisweiler. Past Primisweiler, it merges with the Upper Argen.
The main tributaries are the Wengener Argen and the Haslach.
The Federal highway A96
Bundesautobahn 96
is a motorway in southern Germany, leading from the Austrian border near Lindau through Memmingen, Landsberg am Lech to Munich. Two European routes lead through the autobahn: E 43 and E 54....
crosses it a number of times.
Upper Argen
The Upper Argen originates in a marshy area north-west of OberstaufenOberstaufen
Oberstaufen is a municipality in the district of Oberallgäu in Bavarian Swabia, Germany, situated on the B 308 road from Lindau to Immenstadt.-History:It is first mentioned as Stoufun in AD 868...
in the Allgäu and initially flows through a gorge named Eistobel, then underneath the Argentobelbrücke, then past Grünenbach
Grünenbach
Grünenbach is a municipality in the district of Lindau in Bavaria in Germany.-Geography:Grünenbach is located in the Allgäu region.It consists of the following districts: Ebratshofen, Grünenbach.-History:...
towards Wangen im Allgäu
Wangen im Allgäu
Wangen im Allgäu is a historic city in southeast Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It lies north-east of Lake Constance in the Westallgäu. It is the second-largest city in the Ravensburg district and is a nexus for the surrounding communities...
. From there it goes on via Neuravensburg to Pflegelberg, where it is united with the Lower Argen.
Lower reaches
GeomorphologicallyGeomorphology
Geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them...
, the Argen has cut a deep and wide valley into the landscape, which has led to place names such as Gitzensteig. In some place, the valley is over a kilometer wide. The edges of the valley rise steeply up to 100 meters in places and the valley floor is at the level of Lake Constance.
Further down its course, the river bed becomes increasingly broad. The river here flows past the villages of Laimnau, Apflau and Badhütten. In the lower part of its course, the Argen was straightened considerably. Oxbow lake
Oxbow lake
An oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water formed when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off to create a lake. This landform is called an oxbow lake for the distinctive curved shape, named after part of a yoke for oxen. In Australia, an oxbow lake is called a billabong, derived...
s no longer exist because of the intensive agriculture of the valley. In recent years at least the massive concrete walls alongside the river have been replaced in most of the shallower zones by large stones. Near the estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
at Kressbronn, gravel will be mined in larger quantities, creating new lakes along the river.
Ruins
The ruins of several castles and palaces flank the lower reaches of the Argen: Altsummerau, Neusummerau, the late medievel Gießen Castle at Kreisbrunn, Achberg Castle and Neuravensburg Castle. Remains of an ancient hill fortHill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
can be found in the woods above the river.
Mouth
The mouth into Lake ConstanceLake Constance
Lake Constance is a lake on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps, and consists of three bodies of water: the Obersee , the Untersee , and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, called the Seerhein.The lake is situated in Germany, Switzerland and Austria near the Alps...
is flanked on both sides with ports or pleasure boats. On the left, we also find a camping grounds, name Gohren. Another camping grounds can be at Laimnau, next to a restaurant. Further leasure facilities can be found in this area.
At its mouth, the Argen is 30 meters wide, which is fairly wide for such a short river. Depending on the weather, is may have a large discharge as well. To defend against floods, protective walls have been constructed along the river.
Kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
is possible; bathing facilities are available.
Level
About 200 meters below the Gießenbrücke bridge in Kressbronn (river km 5.8), a water level measuring station exists on the Kresbronn side of the river. It is operated by the "Flood Forecasting Center Baden-Württemberg" and the "State Institure for Environment, Measurements and Nature Conservation Baden-Württemberg". It is operated by the RegierungsbezirkRegierungsbezirk
In Germany, a Government District, in German: Regierungsbezirk – is a subdivision of certain federal states .They are above the Kreise, Landkreise, and kreisfreie Städte...
Tübingen
Tübingen (district)
Tübingen is a district in the middle of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Böblingen, Reutlingen, Zollernalbkreis and Freudenstadt.-History:...
. The zero level for this station is at .
Statistical values
- Mean lowest water level 1980-2003: 0.29 m, 4.87 m³ per second
- Average water level in the years 1980-2003: 0.57 m, 20.50 m³ per second
- Historical record levels, flooding on 22 May 1999: 3.58 m
Nature Reserve
An area of approximately 296 hectares flanking the Argen was declared a Nature ReserveNaturschutzgebiet
A Naturschutzgebiet is a category of protected area within German Federal Conservation Law .- Points of law :...
by the Regional Council of Tübingen
Tübingen (district)
Tübingen is a district in the middle of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Böblingen, Reutlingen, Zollernalbkreis and Freudenstadt.-History:...
on 16 December 1997. Its official name is Naturschutzgebiet Argen and it is registered as reserve number 4282. The reserve covers the area between the confluence of the Upper and Lower Argen Argentina and the mouth into Lake Constance. It includes the river, including the steep slopes, floodplain forest and swamp forests, valleys and flood embankments. 234.8 hectares of the reserve are in the Bodenseekreis
Bodenseekreis
Bodenseekreis is a district in the south-east of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Konstanz, Sigmaringen, Ravensburg and Lindau...
district; 61.54 hectares in the Ravensburg
Ravensburg (district)
Ravensburg is a district in the south-east of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Bodensee, Sigmaringen and Biberach, the Bavarian urban district Memmingen and the districts Unterallgäu, Oberallgäu and Lindau.-History:The district dates back to the Oberamt Ravensburg, which was...
district.
History
In AlamanniaAlamannia
Alamannia or Alemannia was the territory inhabited by the Germanic Alamanni after they broke through the Roman limes in 213.The Alamanni expanded from the Main basin during the 3rd century, raiding the Roman provinces and settling on the left bank of the Rhine from the 4th century.Ruled by...
, a Carolingian
Carolingian
The Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century AD. The name "Carolingian", Medieval Latin karolingi, an altered form of an unattested Old High German *karling, kerling The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the...
county named Argungowe (i.e. Argen County
Argengau
Argengau is a former county in Swabia, Germany....
) existed from the end of the 8th century.