Lake Überlingen
Encyclopedia
Lake Überlingen Lake is the northwestern "finger" of the Obersee
part of Lake Constance
. The boundary of lake is defined as the ferry link from Meersburg
to Constance
. It extends North to Bodman-Ludwigshafen
.
In contrast to the main south-eastern part of the Upper Lake, which is a condominium
, Lake Überlingen is considered German territory.
The total area of Lake Obersee is about 473 km²; with its 61 km², Lake Überlingen is about as large as the Untersee
part of the lake. The elevation of the water surface is about 395 m above sea level
. The maximum depth of Lake Überlingen of 147 m is significantly lower than that of rest of the Obersee with 254 m.
Mainau
, the Island of Flowers, is on the Constance
side of Lake Überlingen. Neighboring municipalities are Meersburg
, Überlingen
, Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
and Sipplingen
in Bodenseekreis
as well as Allensbach
, Bodman-Ludwigshafen
and the city of Constance in the Landkreis of Constance
.
The Seefeld Aach
in Uhldingen flows into Lake Überlingen in Uhldingen, and the Stockacher Aach
between Bodman and Ludwigshafen. Several smaller streams also flow into the lake.
The intake point of the Bodensee-Wasserversorgung is in Sipplingen, at a depth of approximately 60 m. This firm supplies about 4 million people in many parts of Baden-Württemberg
with drinking water, producing about 135 million m³ annually. This represents approximately 1.25% of the discharge.
Like the rest of Lake Constance, Lake Überlingen is a popular water sports area. Because of its steep banks, it is also a popular scuba diving
area. It is, however, dangerous: the banks drop off steeply to about 60 m, visibility is limited, the currents often change and the water temperature in the deeper parts is only 4-5 °C. Novice divers drown almost every year.
valley, created during the folding
that created the Alps
. Its final shaped emerged during the Würm ice age, when the Rhine Glacier
gouged out the whole of Lake Constance from south-east. The rocky walls are made of molasses
, a tertiary
sandstone
, which is quite soft, in accordance with its relatively young age.
During a temporarily stable withdrawal stage of the Rhine glacier (the "Constance stage"), most of the Obersee was still covered by the glacier, the Lake Überlingen was already free of ice, so it was a glacial lake at the end of a glacier; icebergs floated on the lake after braeking off from the glacier. At that time there was an outflow, and thus the source of the Rhine, at the northwest end of Lake Überlingen, near Bodman-Ludwigshafen
, in the direction of Radolfzell
. This created a valley that is still clearly visible between the Radolfzell districts of Stahringen and Reute.
Obersee (Lake Constance)
The Obersee the larger of the two parts of Lake Constance.It has an area of 473 km² in size and extends over 63 km between Bregenz and Bodman-Ludwigshafen. Its maximum width is 14 km. The Romans called it Lacus Venetus, Lacus Brigantinus and Lacus Constantinus...
part of Lake Constance
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...
. The boundary of lake is defined as the ferry link from Meersburg
Meersburg
Meersburg is a town of Baden-Württemberg in the southwest of Germany at Lake Constance.It is famous for its charming medieval city. The lower town and upper town are reserved for pedestrians only and connected by two stairways and a steep street .-History:The name of the town means "Burg on the...
to Constance
Constance
Constance is a female given name that derives from Latin and means "constant." Variations of the name include Connie, Constancia, Constanze, Constanza, Stanzy, and Konstanze.Constance may refer to:-People:*Constance Bennett , American actress...
. It extends North to Bodman-Ludwigshafen
Bodman-Ludwigshafen
Bodman-Ludwigshafen is a village in the district of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. The mayor is Matthias Weckbach.The village is located near the Lake Constance ....
.
In contrast to the main south-eastern part of the Upper Lake, which is a condominium
Condominium (international law)
In international law, a condominium is a political territory in or over which two or more sovereign powers formally agree to share equally dominium and exercise their rights jointly, without dividing it up into 'national' zones.Although a condominium has always been...
, Lake Überlingen is considered German territory.
The total area of Lake Obersee is about 473 km²; with its 61 km², Lake Überlingen is about as large as the Untersee
Untersee (Lake Constance)
The Untersee is the smaller of the two lakes that together form Lake Constance and forms part of the boundary between Switzerland and Germany.- Geography :...
part of the lake. The elevation of the water surface is about 395 m above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. The maximum depth of Lake Überlingen of 147 m is significantly lower than that of rest of the Obersee with 254 m.
Mainau
Mainau
Mainau is an island in Lake Constance . It is maintained as a garden island and a model of excellent environmental practices...
, the Island of Flowers, is on the Constance
Constance
Constance is a female given name that derives from Latin and means "constant." Variations of the name include Connie, Constancia, Constanze, Constanza, Stanzy, and Konstanze.Constance may refer to:-People:*Constance Bennett , American actress...
side of Lake Überlingen. Neighboring municipalities are Meersburg
Meersburg
Meersburg is a town of Baden-Württemberg in the southwest of Germany at Lake Constance.It is famous for its charming medieval city. The lower town and upper town are reserved for pedestrians only and connected by two stairways and a steep street .-History:The name of the town means "Burg on the...
, Überlingen
Überlingen
Überlingen is a city on the northern shore of Lake Constance . After the city of Friedrichshafen, it is the second largest city in the Bodenseekreis , and a central point for the outlying communities...
, Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
Uhldingen-Mühlhofen is a town at the northern shore of Lake Constance, Germany between Überlingen and Meersburg. The town is a popular holiday destination and home to the Pfahlbauten open air museum in Unteruhldingen and the cathedral of Birnau.-Composition:...
and Sipplingen
Sipplingen
Sipplingen is a town in the district of Bodensee in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.-World heritage site:It is home to one or more prehistoric pile-dwelling settlements that are part of the Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps UNESCO World Heritage Site....
in Bodenseekreis
Bodenseekreis
Bodenseekreis is a district in the south-east of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Konstanz, Sigmaringen, Ravensburg and Lindau...
as well as Allensbach
Allensbach
Allensbach is a municipality in the district of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg in Germany, which is known for being the home of the Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach, one of the best known polling organizations in Germany....
, Bodman-Ludwigshafen
Bodman-Ludwigshafen
Bodman-Ludwigshafen is a village in the district of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. The mayor is Matthias Weckbach.The village is located near the Lake Constance ....
and the city of Constance in the Landkreis of Constance
Konstanz (district)
Konstanz is a district in the south of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Schwarzwald-Baar, Tuttlingen, Sigmaringen and Bodenseekreis. To the south it borders the Swiss canton Thurgau and Schaffhausen...
.
The Seefeld Aach
Linzer Aach
The Linzer Aach is a river in Linzgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is approximately 52 kilometres long and flows into Lake Constance. It has a catchment area of 287 km ² and is part of the Rhine river system...
in Uhldingen flows into Lake Überlingen in Uhldingen, and the Stockacher Aach
Stockacher Aach
Stockacher Aach is a river of Baden-Württemberg, Germany.-See also:*List of rivers of Baden-Württemberg...
between Bodman and Ludwigshafen. Several smaller streams also flow into the lake.
The intake point of the Bodensee-Wasserversorgung is in Sipplingen, at a depth of approximately 60 m. This firm supplies about 4 million people in many parts of Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
with drinking water, producing about 135 million m³ annually. This represents approximately 1.25% of the discharge.
Like the rest of Lake Constance, Lake Überlingen is a popular water sports area. Because of its steep banks, it is also a popular scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
area. It is, however, dangerous: the banks drop off steeply to about 60 m, visibility is limited, the currents often change and the water temperature in the deeper parts is only 4-5 °C. Novice divers drown almost every year.
Geology
Überlingen Lake with its steep bank walls is a riftRift
In geology, a rift or chasm is a place where the Earth's crust and lithosphere are being pulled apart and is an example of extensional tectonics....
valley, created during the folding
Folding
Fold or folding may refer to:* Paper folding, the art of folding paper* Book folding, in book production* Skin fold, an area of skin that folds* Fold , in the game of poker, to discard one's hand and forfeit interest in the current pot...
that created the Alps
Alpine orogeny
The Alpine orogeny is an orogenic phase in the Late Mesozoic and Tertiary that formed the mountain ranges of the Alpide belt...
. Its final shaped emerged during the Würm ice age, when the Rhine Glacier
Rhine Glacier
The Rhine Glacier was a glacier during the Last glacial period which is responsible for the formation of the Lake Constance....
gouged out the whole of Lake Constance from south-east. The rocky walls are made of molasses
Molasses
Molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar cane, grapes or sugar beets into sugar. The word molasses comes from the Portuguese word melaço, which ultimately comes from mel, the Latin word for "honey". The quality of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane or sugar beet,...
, a tertiary
Tertiary
The Tertiary is a deprecated term for a geologic period 65 million to 2.6 million years ago. The Tertiary covered the time span between the superseded Secondary period and the Quaternary...
sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, which is quite soft, in accordance with its relatively young age.
During a temporarily stable withdrawal stage of the Rhine glacier (the "Constance stage"), most of the Obersee was still covered by the glacier, the Lake Überlingen was already free of ice, so it was a glacial lake at the end of a glacier; icebergs floated on the lake after braeking off from the glacier. At that time there was an outflow, and thus the source of the Rhine, at the northwest end of Lake Überlingen, near Bodman-Ludwigshafen
Bodman-Ludwigshafen
Bodman-Ludwigshafen is a village in the district of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. The mayor is Matthias Weckbach.The village is located near the Lake Constance ....
, in the direction of Radolfzell
Radolfzell
Radolfzell am Bodensee is a town in Germany at the western end of Lake Constance approximately 18 km northwest of Konstanz. It is the third largest town, after Constance and Singen, in the district of Konstanz, in Baden-Württemberg....
. This created a valley that is still clearly visible between the Radolfzell districts of Stahringen and Reute.