Lake Constance (German Bodensee) is a large lake between Austria, Switzerland and Germany. It is located on the Rhein river. It received its first mention in history around 43 BC. Geographer Pomponius Mela observed that the Rhine flows through two lakes, which are known as Obersee and Untersee today. Lake Constance is also called the Swabian Sea. It enjoys a particularly scenic location. The lake is in proximity to the Bavarian Allgau mountains and the Black Forest. The rolling hills of Germany lie to the north, and the Austrian and Swiss Alps to the south.

Lake Constance was romanticized by artists, poets and philosophers in the 18th century, later discovered as a top summer destination by aristocrats, became popular with newly rich industrialists in the 19th century, and finally started to attract tourists of all walks of life and from all parts of the world. Lake Constance has an area of 541 sq. km. It is 252 m deep at the deepest point, 13 km wide and 65 km long. Its shoreline extends for around 200 km. The Bodan Mountain divides it into two parts - Untersee (south) and berlingersee (north). The main part of the lake located southeast of the city Konstanz in Germany is called the Obersee. The northwest parts of the lake are known as Zeller See and Gnadensee. The lake was a major traffic center as early as the Middle Ages due to its strategic location at the intersection of several main roads. Ruins of lake dwellings from the Neolithic age have been discovered here. The climate along the shores is usually sunny and mild. This area is home to many vineyards with its fertile slopes. There are trout and salmon in the lake, and fishing is a favorite pastime of locals. Over 1000 tons of fish are caught in this lake each year. The lake is home to an extremely rare species, the Lake Constance Trout or Salmo tutra. The striking alpine setting and excellent climate ensure an excellent holiday. There are two trendy casinos, 38 lovely beaches (including one nude), 24 yacht ports with boats to rent and sailing schools, a myriad of tennis courts, both indoor and outdoor, hundreds of kilometers of bridle paths and hiking trails, over 20 stables for renting horses, many top-class accommodation properties and a multitude of first-rate restaurants on the German lakefront alone. You certainly wont be bored here! Lake Constance is the third largest in Central Europe after Lake Geneva and Lake Balaton. It provides fresh water to many populated areas in south Germany. The lake was formed during the Ice Age by the Rhine Glacier. 250 000 shorebirds and waterfowl nest in the shallow waters and marshes near the lake. The birds feed on mussels, water plants and other organisms. Several rare species of avifauna nest and roost in the reed marshes. These include the common snipe, cormorants, several duck species, and the arctic loon. Threatened flower species like Siberian lilies, several types of orchids and a variety of forget-me-nots endemic to Lake Constance blossom in the protected areas of the lake.

History
The shores of Lake Constance were settled a full eight milleniums ago. The early settlers lived in pile dwellings (houses on stilts). The region became famous for its vineyards and fruit orchards in the 17th and 18th centuries. The watershed of the lake is inhabited by 2.2 million people. It has seen the birth of mountains, volcanic eruptions, raging floods, morphing glaciers and more. Forests spread as the climate warmed after the end of the last Ice Age. The lake region is among the oldest centers of world culture. By the 1970s the lake had become heavily polluted, and billion-dollar investments were made in purification facilities. These problems were resolved, but others emerged. Since WWII the lakefront has become increasingly crowded. Orchards and open lands have given way to plantations that require use of harmful chemicals. The landscape is interwoven with roads. The number of pleasure boats on Lake Constance has grown exponentially in the last twenty years. Most of them are motorized, which results in pollution from bilge waters. The governments of the three nations are taking preventive measures.

Sports
The lake offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities swimming, walking, tobogganing, skiing, diving, tennis, golf, hiking, squash, cycling, white water rafting, sailing, windsurfing, rowing, hot air ballooning and more. There are several theme parks in the area. You can swim in designated areas in the lake, but the water is quite cold, so you may choose a heated lakeside pool instead. The heated pool Jakob Lido in the German city of Konstanz is a popular place. Sailing is very popular too, and you can rent motorboats and rowboats at all major lakefront hotels or take a sailing class. You must present a sailing certificate from a school in order to rent a boat, however. A great way to see the lake is to cover its circumference by bike. This route is 250 km long. Do not dismiss the idea the shore area is generally flat. All major railway stations offer bikes for rent. Cycling is a very popular activity among people of all ages here.

Food and Drink
If you feel like eating fresh fish, there is no better place to be. Lake Constance offers 35 edible fish species. The felchen, a type of whitefish, is the most popular. It is served grilled, poached, steamed or sauted. The lake also produces fine eel, salmon, pikeperch and zander. Considering the proximity of Switzerland, the abundance of cheese dishes is more than natural. Mountain cheese is a good local buy. The best German wines come from the lake region. The main varieties are Rulander (pinot gris), Muller-Thurgau and Spatburgunder (pinot noir). The main wine-growing areas are around Meersburg, Kressbronn, Nonnenhorn and Nussdorf.

Islands in the lake
There are three islands in Lake Constance Mainau, Reichenau and Lindau. Mainau lies on the shore of berlinger See near Konstanz. This island is property of Count Bernadotte of Sweden. Before the Napoleonic era it belonged to the Teutonic Knights, a military order. This island features beautifully landscaped flower gardens and panoramic views of the lake. There is also a greenhouse with thousands of butterflies and a tropical climate. Reichenau Island lies between Untersee and Gradensee in southern Germany. It was classed as a World Heritage Site because of its ancient monastery, Reichenau Abbey. This is the best-preserved abbey north of the Alps. It was founded in 724 and flourished in the centuries that followed. It housed an art workshop, a scriptorium (a special premise where ancient manuscripts were copied by hand) and a school. A famous product of the scriptorium were the Pericopes of Henry II, an illuminated manuscript made for this ruler. The monastery houses the unique 10th century Ottonian murals depicting miracles performed by Christ, named after the historical Ottonian ruling dynasty. The island has also received recognition for its vineyards and vegetable farms. There is a large nature reserve next to the island, a wetland that is home to many bird species in the season of migration. The island of Lindau in the eastern part of the lake has many attractions and landmarks. These include the port entryway with the Bavarian Lion and a lighthouse, St. Stephans Church, St. Peters Church, the main shopping artery Maximilian Street, the historic town hall and the Aeschach lakeside promenade. An important excavation was made in Aeschach region the remains of a Roman settlement dating back to the 1st century.

Cities and towns on the lake
Notable towns on the Austrian side of the lake include Hard, Bregenz and Lochau. Bregenz is located on a plateau extending to the foot of Pfander Mountain. The city hosts a famous music festival each summer, the Bregenzer Festspiele. This area was first settled around 1500 BC. Attractions include St. Gallus Church, the Post Office Building, Martins Tower, the Art House and the Lake Promenade. Martins Tower features a chapel with friezes dating from 1362. It houses the Military History Museum and has the biggest Baroque-style steeple in Central Europe. St. Gallus Church features Roman-Romanesque groundwork, predating the 14th century. Its town hall was built in 1686 and its faade was redesigned in 1898. Popular destinations on the German side of the lake include the towns of Meersburg, Daisendorf, Unteruhldingen and Konstanz. Other notable towns are Allensbach on Gnadensee and Radolfzell on Zellersee. Meersburg is famous for its ancient castle. It is located in southwest Germany, right on the lakefront. Daisendorf is also located in this area. It has an ancient chapel dating from 1508, which holds unique Renaissance frescoes. It also has many excellent restaurants and a popular wine festival, held in August of each year. It is something of a mini-Oktoberfest. Unteruhldingen is a charming hamlet, popular for its open-air Museum of Archaeology. It showcases models of Neolithic and Bronze Age stilt houses. It also incorporates modern research. Konstanz is a university town with population of around 80 000. It lies on the Rhine and is the perfect starting point for a tour of Reichenau and Mainau islands. The Munster cathedral dominates the town. Another attraction is the theatre from 1610, the oldest theatre in the country still holding regular performances. Konstanz was settled by the Romans in 100 AD, but it is believed that this area was inhabited as far back as the Stone Age. The town is named after emperor Constantius Chlorus. It prospered in medieval times. Konstanz owned the only bridge over the Rhine in the area, which transformed it into a strategic trade center. Three towers remain from the Middle Age city wall, one of which marks the place of this bridge. Konstanz was granted the status of Imperial City in 1192. It was here that religious reformer Jan Hus was burned at the stake. This unfortunate event occurred in 1415. Notable towns on the Swiss side of the lake include Rorschach, Horn, Steinach, Frasnacht and Arbon. Attractions in Rorschach include the Aviation Museum, Mariaberg monastery, the lakeside promenade and several historical castles St. Anna, Sulzberg, Wartensee and Wartegg.