Lake Constance

The level of the lake is at 395 m above sea level. The greatest depth is 252 m in the middle of the eastern part (Obersee). The lake has four parts: Obersee, Überlinger See, Zeller See and Untersee. The Rhine flows through the Obersee, the city of Constance and the Untersee. The exit is near Stein am Rhein.

The Lake Constance had been formed by the Rhine Glacier during the Ice Ages. The Rhine, the Bregenzer Ache and the Dornbirner Ache transport a lot of sediments from the Alps to the Lake, thus minimizing the size of the lake from the southeast.

The Lake Constance was first mentioned by the hispanic geograph Pomponius Mela about 43 B.C. He noted that the Rhine flows through two lakes, Lacus Venetus (today Obersee) and Lacus Acronius (today Untersee). Plinius the elder used the name Lacus Brigantinus according to the roman city of Brigantium, today Bregenz.

Towns and cities beside the lake include:

Germany:

• Friedrichshafen
• Konstanz
• Lindau
• Meersburg[?]
• Radolfzell

Switzerland:

• Rorschach[?]
• Arbon[?]
• Romanshorn[?]
• Kreuzlingen[?]
• Gottlieben[?]
• Ermatingen[?]
• Steckborn[?]

Austria:

• Bregenz

Islands on the lake:

• Mainau Island
• Reichenau
• Lindau