The secret of Lake Constance: The sunken wreck of the law reveals shocking stories!

The secret of Lake Constance: The sunken wreck of the law reveals shocking stories!

Konstanz, Deutschland - Hardly a place has as many secrets as Lake Constance, the largest lake in Germany. This is also the focus of the new ARD documentary "Immerse yourself in the deep blue-Germany's lakes in southern Germany", which explores the fascinating underwater world and its history. As the Schwäbische , the numerous wrecks in Bodense took place. Among them is the famous wreck of the Jura shovel wheel steamer, which has been a secret under the water surface for almost a century.

The law was put into service in the Escher-Wyss machine factory in Zurich in 1854. In the first few years, the ship drove for the Société des Bateaux à Vapeur du Lac du Neuchâtel and later for the Lindau steamship inspection. With a length of 46.3 meters and a width of 10.25 meters, the Jura was originally approved for up to 400 passengers and reached a top speed of 10 knots, i.e. around 18.5 kilometers per hour. On February 12, 1864, it happened: In dense fog, she collided with the steamship city of Zurich. The law sank within just four minutes and took a sailor who was overwhelmed, and another young man who lost his arm - a real stroke of fate that should go into the history of shipping.

a desperate search and valuable finds

The downfall of the Jura remained a secret until the wreck was discovered in 1953 almost a century after the accident. The discoverer Ludwig Hain did not let himself be disturbed and found the sunken ship at a depth of 45 meters. The first underwater shots were taken in 1969. Since then, the Jura has been one of the most famous freshwater wrecks in Europe. Wikipedia emphasizes that the wreck was again precisely mapped in scientific measurements in 2013.

But the law not only harbors a tragic story, but also many valuable objects. So far, 47 kilograms of heavy ship bell, bottles and other objects have been recovered, which are now exhibited in the Kreuzlingen sea museum. But the clock is ticking - the Historical Schifffahrt Bodensee Foundation is planning a salvage and restoration of the Jura, the costs of which are estimated at around 3.5 million euros. A big project, after all, the wreck is threatened by quaggamic cuffs that eat in the wood.

A look at the wrecks in Lake Constance

The Jura is only one of around 300 wrecks that are recorded in Lake Constance. The exact number is difficult to determine because many wrecks cannot be assigned to any specific ship. The elementary causes for the downfall are diverse: storms, collisions or even overcharges are just a few of the reasons why ships sank here. Wikipedia inform us that some shipping submits in the region had devastating consequences; The fall of a ship in front of Lindau, for example, demanded 52 lives in 1422.

Scientists and historians are working intensively to research this treasury in history. Over the centuries there have been many significant loss of ships in this water, but shipping in Lake Constance has a long, unbroken tradition. The legends and stories that combine with these wrecks are as fascinating as the ships themselves.

The Lake Constance remains a place full of secrets, guarded by the depth. And while the law tells of an exciting past, it is also a formative part of the future of Lake Constance. Perhaps one or the other reader is interested in immersing yourself in the secrets of water and experiencing the silence of the underwater world. Because who knows which stories are still hidden there.