Argen
| Argen | |
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The Argen upstream of the suspension bridge between Kressbronn am Bodensee and Langenargen
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| 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 |
| 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°ECoordinates: 47°35′14″N 9°33′19″E / 47.58722°N 9.55528°E |
| Progression | Lake Constance → Rhine → North Sea |
| River system | Rhein |
| Tributaries |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 23.4 km (14.5 mi) (with Upper Argen 51.4 km or 31.9 mi) |
| Discharge |
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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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Wikipedia