Argen

Argen

The Argen upstream of the suspension bridge between Kressbronn am Bodensee and Langenargen
Country Germany
Location Ravensburg and Bodenseekreis in Baden-Württemberg
Basin features
Main source Confluence of Lower Argen and Upper Argen, between Neukirch and Neuravensburg
496 m (1,627 ft)
47°39′17″N 9°44′40″E / 47.65472°N 9.74444°E / 47.65472; 9.74444
River mouth Into Lake Constance between Kressbronn am Bodensee and Langenargen
395 m (1,296 ft)
47°35′14″N 9°33′19″E / 47.58722°N 9.55528°E / 47.58722; 9.55528Coordinates: 47°35′14″N 9°33′19″E / 47.58722°N 9.55528°E / 47.58722; 9.55528
Progression Lake Constance → Rhine → North Sea
River system Rhein
Tributaries
Physical characteristics
Length 23.4 km (14.5 mi) (with Upper Argen 51.4 km or 31.9 mi)
Discharge
  • Average rate:
    20.5 m3/s (720 cu ft/s)

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 kilometres (14.5 mi) long; if one includes the Upper Argen, the combined length is 51.4 kilometres (31.9 mi).

Course

The headwaters of the Argen rise in the Allgäu. 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.

Lower Argen

The origin of the Lower Argen is the confluence of Börlasbach and Stixnerbach at the western entrance to Missen at about 850 metres (2,790 ft) above sea level 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.

Upper Argen

The Upper Argen originates in a marshy area north-west of Oberstaufen 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.

Lower reaches

Lower reaches and mouth and between Kressbronn and Langenargen

Geomorphologically, 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 metres (330 ft) 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 lakes 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.

Ruins

The ruins of several castles and palaces flank the lower reaches of the Argen: Altsummerau, Neusummerau, the late medieval Gießen Castle at Kreisbrunn, Achberg Castle and Neuravensburg Castle. Remains of an ancient hill fort can be found in the woods above the river.

Mouth

The mouth into Lake Constance is flanked on both sides with ports or pleasure boats. On the left is a camping grounds name Gohren. Another camping grounds can be at Laimnau, next to a restaurant. Further leisure facilities can be found in this area.

At its mouth, the Argen is 30 metres (98 ft) 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.

Level

Level measuring station Pegel Gießen

About 200 metres (660 ft) 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 Regierungsbezirk Tübingen. The zero level for this station is at an elevation of 420.13 metres (1,378.4 ft).

Statistical values

Nature reserve

Bluffs above Gießenbrücke

An area of approximately 296 hectares (730 acres) flanking the Argen was declared a nature reserve 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. Of the total, 234.8 hectares (580 acres) of the reserve are in the Bodenseekreis district and 61.54 hectares (152.1 acres) in the Ravensburg district.[1]

History

In Alamannia, a Carolingian county named Argungowe (i.e. Argen County) existed from the end of the 8th century.

Marathon

The roads along the Argen between Argensteg and Gießenbrücke are used in the annual Bodensee-Marathon. Runners must run on the road on the Kresbronn side to Gießenbrücke, then cross the bridge and run along the river on the Langenargen side to Argensteg, then via Gohren to the finish at Kressbronn Lakeside Sports Hall.

References and sources

Footnotes

  1. ↑ http://www.lubw.baden-wuerttemberg.de
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