Arlesheimersee

From a bird’s-eye view, Arlesheimersee shimmers like an emerald nestled in the Freiburger Bucht. But let’s descend from the heavens and land right here, at the water’s edge. Arlesheimersee isn’t some ancient, mystical body of water. It’s a surprisingly young lake, born between March and December 1960. It was created as a gravel pit during the construction of the A5 Autobahn, connecting Karlsruhe and Basel. Can you hear the ghostly echoes of construction machinery? Imagine the trucks rumbling past, laden with gravel destined for the burgeoning highway. Arlesheimersee’s name might evoke images of a distant locale. The lake is actually named after the Swiss municipality of Arlesheim, a former prince-episcopal seat near Basel. This naming choice reflects historical ties between Freiburg’s Tiengen district and the Catholic chapter of Basel’s cathedral, which resided in Arlesheim. They held patronage over Tiengen’s Protestant village church until 1806. A peculiar connection, wouldn’t you agree? By 1964 and 1966, Arlesheimersee had expanded further, giving birth to its distinctive bays and two islands. Of the 40 new gravel pit lakes formed during the A5’s construction, Arlesheimersee stands alone. It’s the only one that has become a designated nature reserve. The entire area has been fenced off since 1967. Another intriguing detail of Arlesheimersee’s creation involves its unusual beginnings. Unlike the typical procedure, the topsoil wasn’t pushed into the lake after excavation. This resulted in a nutrient-poor environment initially. However, the abundant waterfowl that settled in the lake, along with a stream flowing from the Mooswald and its leaf litter, have since enriched the lake’s ecosystem. Today, Arlesheimersee is a haven for biodiversity. It’s a vital resting and feeding ground for over 160 bird species, 48 of which breed within the area. Thirty-one dragonfly species and two bat species also call this sanctuary home. Even a rare moss, the Engmündige Krausblattmoos (Ulota coarctata), thought extinct in Baden-Württemberg since 1927, was rediscovered here in April 2002. So, as you stand by Arlesheimersee, remember that this tranquil oasis isn’t just a pretty sight. It’s a testament to the interplay between human activity and nature, a place where history and ecology intertwine to create a unique and vibrant ecosystem.