| Quick Facts: | Lake of Constance |
|---|---|
| Countries: | Germany Switzerland Austria |
| Catchment area: | 11.500 km² (4.400 sq mi) |
| Max. length: | 63 km (39 mi) |
| Max width: | 14 km (8.7 mi) |
| Surface area: | 536 km² (207 sq m) |
| Avg. Depth: | 90 m (300 ft) |
| Max. depth: | 254 m (833 ft) |
| Water volume: | 10 km³ (3.5×1011 cu ft) |
| Surface elevation: | 395 m (1.296 ft) |
| Primary inflow/outflow: | Rhine River |
Lake of Constance is a large lake bordered by Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. The Lake of Constance (Konstanz; German, Bodensee) has an area of 204 square miles (528 sq km). It is 46 miles (74 km) long at its longest point—the distance from Bregenz, Austria, to Stein-am-Rhein, Switzerland. At its widest point, it is approximately 8 miles (13 km) across.
The lake’s maximum depth is 827 feet (252 m). At its northwest end, the main lake, or Obersee, is divided by the Bodanrück Peninsula (in Germany) into two arms: The northern arm is called Überlingersee, and the southern arm is divided into the Zellersee and the Untersee.
The Lake of Constance, whose waters are dark green and clear, is subject to sudden risings of its water level caused by the quick melting of snow along the rivers that feed into it. The main lake freezes only in severe winters. It contains a great variety and abundance of fish, which are the basis of an important industry.
