Großer Plöner See
Encyclopedia
The Großer Plöner See or Lake Plön is the largest lake
(30 km²) in Schleswig-Holstein
, Germany
. It is located near the town of Plön
. Its main tributary, as well as the its main outflow, is the River Schwentine.
.
On its north shore lies the county town of Plön
, whose emblem depicts the lake below Plön Castle
situated on a hill. Other settlements on the shore of the Großer Plöner See are Bosau
, Dersau
and Ascheberg.
known in German as a Zungenbecken, whose shape may be especially well seen on the southern shore between Bosau and Nehmten. Two glaciers were largely responsible for forming the 58 m deep Plön Basin in the east at and shallower 30 m deep Ascherberger Basin in the west. The northern boundary of the lake consists of a land bridge
between the Great and Little Plön Lakes
, which was formed during a later advance of the ice sheet as a terminal moraine.
, Goldeneye
, Goosander and Greylag Goose
.
The Prince's Island (Prinzeninsel), which became a peninsula in the 19th century when the water level was artificially lowered, extends from here for 2 km to the north and is a popular summer destination for tourists.
Another nature reserve that has existed since 1955, is located in the western part of the lake around the Ascheberger Warder. Overall, there are more than 20 islands scattered around the Großer Plöner See.
flows through today in Holstein Switzerland.
From sediment samples, that were taken from the bed of the lake at a depth of 41 m, it can be deduced that the first barriers were built as early as the 13th century.
Following the expiry of the impoundment rights
for the old mill (mentioned as early as 1221) and eel fishing rights, the water level of lake was lowered by 1.14 m. The associated aim of land reclamation was certainly achieved, but the terrain gained was a rocky and offered only low yields. But reducing the water level did improved the degree of water control (Vorflut).
The present surface of the lake currently lies at about 21 m above sea leve and varies seasonally by around 30 cm.
(ca. 10000–4300 B.C.) by hunters, gatherers and fishers. From the New Stone Age (ca. 4300–2300 B.C.), through the Bronze Age
(ca. 2300–550 B.C.) and into the Iron Age
(ca. 550 B.C.–400 A.D.) it was settled by farmers more or less continuously.
From the 8th to the 12th century the region around the Plöner See was settled by Slavs
. There is still evidence of this in the Olsborg, an island south of Plön, that was heavily fortified. The Slavs called it Plune
, which meant "ice-free water". In 1139 the Holstein count Adolf II of Schauenburg
destroyed the fort and ended Slav rule over the Plön region.
The lake is fished by several professional fishermen. Species of fish include eel
, perch
, bream, pike
, tench
, carp
, whiting
and whitefish
.
There are a total of 15 bathing sites. Some campsites (including Bosau and Ruhleben) are located directly on the lakeshore. There is a wide range of recreational activities such as boating, sailing, diving and fishing. During the summer pleasure boats ply the lake.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
(30 km²) in Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is located near the town of Plön
Plön
Plön is the district seat of the Plön district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and has about 13,000 inhabitants. It lies right on the shores of Schleswig-Holstein's biggest lake, the Great Plön Lake, as well as on several smaller lakes, touching the town on virtually all sides...
. Its main tributary, as well as the its main outflow, is the River Schwentine.
General
With an area of about 30 km² and a depth of up to 58 m the Großer Plöner See is the largest and deepest lake in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. It lies wholly within the Holstein Switzerland Nature ParkHolstein Switzerland Nature Park
The Holstein Switzerland Nature Park is a German federal nature park in the Holstein Switzerland region of Schleswig-Holstein.In 1986 an association called the Naturpark Holsteinische Schweiz was founded...
.
On its north shore lies the county town of Plön
Plön
Plön is the district seat of the Plön district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and has about 13,000 inhabitants. It lies right on the shores of Schleswig-Holstein's biggest lake, the Great Plön Lake, as well as on several smaller lakes, touching the town on virtually all sides...
, whose emblem depicts the lake below Plön Castle
Plön Castle
Plön Castle in Plön is one of the largest castles in the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein and the only one located on a hill. The former Residenz of the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Plön was built in the 17th century during the Thirty Years War and has had a colourful history in which it...
situated on a hill. Other settlements on the shore of the Großer Plöner See are Bosau
Bosau
Bosau is a municipality on the Great Plön Lake the district of Ostholstein, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated approx. 13 km west of Eutin, and 30 km southeast of the state capital of Kiel.- Parishes :...
, Dersau
Dersau
Dersau is a municipality in the district of Plön, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
and Ascheberg.
Origin
The Große Plöner See emerged as a consequence of the glaciation of Schleswig-Holstein after the last ice age. It is a typical Weichselian glacial lakeGlacial lake
A glacial lake is a lake with origins in a melted glacier. Near the end of the last glacial period, roughly 10,000 years ago, glaciers began to retreat. A retreating glacier often left behind large deposits of ice in hollows between drumlins or hills. As the ice age ended, these melted to create...
known in German as a Zungenbecken, whose shape may be especially well seen on the southern shore between Bosau and Nehmten. Two glaciers were largely responsible for forming the 58 m deep Plön Basin in the east at and shallower 30 m deep Ascherberger Basin in the west. The northern boundary of the lake consists of a land bridge
Land bridge
A land bridge, in biogeography, is an isthmus or wider land connection between otherwise separate areas, over which animals and plants are able to cross and colonise new lands...
between the Great and Little Plön Lakes
Kleiner Plöner See
- Geography:It lies west of the town of the Plön, has an area of , is up to about 31 metres deep and has a surface elevation of around . The lake is owned both by the state of Schleswig-Holstein as well as various private individuals....
, which was formed during a later advance of the ice sheet as a terminal moraine.
Islands
The eastern and the western parts of the lake are connected by an area of shallow water which was designated in 1992 as a nature reserve. In this area is the largest of the islands, providing a sheltered and quiet, breeding and moulting area for bird species such as White-tailed EagleWhite-tailed Eagle
The White-tailed Eagle , also known as the Sea Eagle, Erne , or White-tailed Sea-eagle, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which includes other raptors such as hawks, kites, and harriers...
, Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
The Common Goldeneye is a medium-sized sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. Their closest relative is the similar Barrow's Goldeneye....
, Goosander and Greylag Goose
Greylag Goose
The Greylag Goose , Anser anser, is a bird with a wide range in the Old World. It is the type species of the genus Anser....
.
The Prince's Island (Prinzeninsel), which became a peninsula in the 19th century when the water level was artificially lowered, extends from here for 2 km to the north and is a popular summer destination for tourists.
Another nature reserve that has existed since 1955, is located in the western part of the lake around the Ascheberger Warder. Overall, there are more than 20 islands scattered around the Großer Plöner See.
Water levels
Originally (at the beginning of the Postglacial epoch) the water surfaces of the lake was about 15 to 18 m above its present level and covered the entire region of the lakes through which the SchwentineSchwentine
The Schwentine is a river in the North German state of Schleswig-Holstein. It is approximately 62 kilometres long and rises on the hill of Bungsberg, the highest point in the state, near the village of Kasseedorf in Ostholstein. It then runs from its source to Kiel where it flows into the Kiel...
flows through today in Holstein Switzerland.
From sediment samples, that were taken from the bed of the lake at a depth of 41 m, it can be deduced that the first barriers were built as early as the 13th century.
Following the expiry of the impoundment rights
Impoundment rights
Impoundment rights denoted a right granted only to the German nobility and monasteries to levy taxes for the damming of rivers and streams. These rights were eliminated by the Prussian reforms of the 19th century and replaced by state-granted rights motivated by the need for water...
for the old mill (mentioned as early as 1221) and eel fishing rights, the water level of lake was lowered by 1.14 m. The associated aim of land reclamation was certainly achieved, but the terrain gained was a rocky and offered only low yields. But reducing the water level did improved the degree of water control (Vorflut).
The present surface of the lake currently lies at about 21 m above sea leve and varies seasonally by around 30 cm.
Settlement
The lakeshore was used during the Middle Stone AgeMiddle Stone Age
The Middle Stone Age was a period of African Prehistory between Early Stone Age and Late Stone Age. It is generally considered to have begun around 280,000 years ago and ended around 50-25,000 years ago. The beginnings of particular MSA stone tools have their origins as far back as 550-500,000...
(ca. 10000–4300 B.C.) by hunters, gatherers and fishers. From the New Stone Age (ca. 4300–2300 B.C.), through the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
(ca. 2300–550 B.C.) and into the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
(ca. 550 B.C.–400 A.D.) it was settled by farmers more or less continuously.
From the 8th to the 12th century the region around the Plöner See was settled by Slavs
Slavic peoples
The Slavic people are an Indo-European panethnicity living in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia. The term Slavic represents a broad ethno-linguistic group of people, who speak languages belonging to the Slavic language family and share, to varying degrees, certain...
. There is still evidence of this in the Olsborg, an island south of Plön, that was heavily fortified. The Slavs called it Plune
Plön
Plön is the district seat of the Plön district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and has about 13,000 inhabitants. It lies right on the shores of Schleswig-Holstein's biggest lake, the Great Plön Lake, as well as on several smaller lakes, touching the town on virtually all sides...
, which meant "ice-free water". In 1139 the Holstein count Adolf II of Schauenburg
Adolf II of Holstein
Adolf II was the Count of Schauenburg and Holstein from 1130 until his death, though he was briefly out of Holstein from 1137 until 1142. He succeeded his father Adolf I under the regency of his mother, Hildewa....
destroyed the fort and ended Slav rule over the Plön region.
Economic use
The lake area is divided amongst several private owners as well as the state of Schleswig-Holstein. About 900 ha of the lake is rented out until 2020.The lake is fished by several professional fishermen. Species of fish include eel
European eel
The European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is a species of eel, a snake-like, catadromous fish. They can reach in exceptional cases a length of 1½ m, but are normally much smaller, about 60–80 cm, and rarely more than 1 m....
, perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
, bream, pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, tench
Tench
The tench or doctor fish is a freshwater and brackish water fish of the cyprinid family found throughout Eurasia from Western Europe including the British Isles east into Asia as far as the Ob and Yenisei Rivers. It is also found in Lake Baikal...
, carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
, whiting
Whiting
Whiting is the name of several species of fish:*Merlangius merlangus, the original species to receive the name; a common food fish of the cod family found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean around Europe and the Mediterranean regions...
and whitefish
Whitefish
Whitefish or white fish may refer to:In fishing terminology:* Whitefish , a fisheries term referring to the flesh of many types of fishIn fish species:...
.
Tourism and leisure facilities
The lake and its surroundings are a popular recreational area for residents of the metropolitan areas of Kiel, Lübeck and Hamburg as well as a centre of tourism within Holstein Switzerland.There are a total of 15 bathing sites. Some campsites (including Bosau and Ruhleben) are located directly on the lakeshore. There is a wide range of recreational activities such as boating, sailing, diving and fishing. During the summer pleasure boats ply the lake.
See also
Source
- Muuß, Uwe; Petersen, Marcus; König, Dietrich (1973). Die Binnengewässer Schleswig-Holsteins. 162 pp., numerous photos, Wachholtz-Verlag Neumünster. ISBN 3529053023