The way of water

Landscape shaped by water

The Swabian Alb is a karst landscape. On the surface, it consists of limestone which allows the rainwater to quickly seep away. On its way through the Swabian Alb, the water dissolves the limestone. Caves are formed. In these caves, limestone is partly precipitated again from the trickling water and stalactites are formed. In this way, the water makes its way through the Swabian Alb until it comes to the surface again at karst springs. In some places, seeping rainwater also meets damming rock layers and comes back to the surface in the form of waterfalls.

You can follow the path of water in the UNESCO Global Geopark Swabian Alb in many places. In the twelve show caves of the Swabian Alb, for example, you can admire how water created large cavities and exciting stalactite formations over millennia to millions of years. No matter which cave you visit, traces of water can be found everywhere.

The many karst springs are also exceptional. The Blautopf in Blaubeuren is world famous, but also the Lonetopf, the Brenztopf or the two twin ponds Urspringtopf and Achtopf near Schelklingen shine in fabulous shades of blue on sunny days. Along the escarpment of the Alb you will also find numerous waterfalls. In addition to the well-known Urach waterfall, there is the Neidlinger waterfall and the Zillhausener waterfall, to name just a few.

Another rarity of the Swabian Alb is the fascinating Danube seepage. The water of the Danube seeps underground between Immendingen and Fridingen and reappears in Germany's most water-rich spring, the Aachtopf near Aach. From there, the water of the Danube flows via the Aach into Lake Constance and thus into the Rhine. Therefore, the Danube flows above ground into the Black Sea, but underground a part of the water of the Upper Danube flows via Lake Constance and the Rhine into the North Sea. On approximately 130 full seepage days per year, the Upper Danube thus drains completely into the Rhine river system.

Themen

  • Pond
    LL ZainingerHuele GregorLengler

    As a karst region, the Swabian Alb is characterized by a superficial lack of water - but not everywhere. In places where the Swabian volcano cut through the Alb around 15 million years ago, drainage-free depressions have formed above the waterlogging volcanic rock. Here, rainwater can collect. Humans settled in these areas on the Alb, as they provided the life-sustaining water. The typical ponds are called Hülbe or Hüle. But not every pond goes back to volcanism. Some of them are depressions that were sealed by weathered clay and therefore carry water. And sometimes, the ponds were built by the inhabitants of the Alb.

  • Cave
    LL SontheimerHoehle ReinerEnkelmann

    The water seeps rapidly into the limestone of the Swabian Alb. On its way through the subsoil, it dissolves lime and carries it further. This creates fantastic cave systems, many of them with magnificent stalactites. Dripstones are formed when the dissolved lime precipitates again. With around 2800 caves, the Swabian Alb is the region with the most caves in Germany. Therefore, the Swabian Alb Geopark also devotes a lot of attention to the caves. An overview of the show caves is available at "Discover Geopark".

  • Waterfall
    LL NeidlingerWasserfall ReinerEnkelmann

    At spring horizons, water comes back to the surface. Along the Alb escarpment, you will therefore find numerous waterfalls that represent a unique natural spectacle. In many places, you can also watch the youngest rock of the Swabian Alb - the lime tufa - grow at these waterfalls. At some waterfalls, the lime tufa can even grow a few centimeters a year. But be careful! Lime tufa is very soft and will break if you step on it. Lime tufa terraces are valuable habitats for rare plants and animals. The striking porous rock was used in many historic buildings on the Alb.

  • Karst spring
    LL BlautopfBlaubeuren GregorLengler

    At karst springs like the Blautopf or the Lonetopf, the lime-rich water that has seeped into the Swabian Alb resurfaces again. The brilliant blue water is characteristic of these spring pots that are found in the southeastern part of the Alb. It is so blue because the blue part of sunlight is scattered by the many lime particles in the water and we therefore perceive the water as radiant blue.

  • River
    LL NPObereDonaumitSchlossWerenwag ReinerEnkelmann

    Not all water seeps into the karst of the Swabian Alb. In some places you can hike and bike along streams and rivers. If you keep your eyes open, you will also discover fascinating waterfalls along these rivers. On the Danube, you can marvel at how the water seeps into the karst and an entire river disappears at once.

  • Dry valley
    LL Wental ReinerEnkelmann v2

    In the dry valleys of the Swabian Alb, you walk in former stream and river beds. For example, a river once used to flow in the Wental valley. Today, the river flows underground, but it left behind the impressive valley with its striking rocks.

Impressions

  • Weg des Wassers
    © Reiner Enkelmann
    The way of water