The 5 Most Dangerous Lakes in Germany: Life-Threatening Risks When Swimming

Not every body of water that looks like an idyllic natural paradise actually is one. In Germany, there are thousands of lakes where you can swim safely, but there are also exceptions. Here, toxic waste that pollutes the water or life-threatening underwater caves may lurk. There have been serious diving accidents and even fatalities.

The name sounds harmless, but the water is not: The Silbersee in the southeast of Nuremberg is an artificially created, highly toxic body of water. Danger? High! The lake was formed starting in 1937 as part of a large excavation pit and served as a hazardous waste landfill. In the decades after the war, toxic waste was dumped here.

Due to the lack of a seal between the landfill and the groundwater, the Silbersee is contaminated with various pollutants. The poison reached the water through the ground. Approximately 50 people have died so far from hydrogen sulfide fumes because they swam in the lake.

Passionate divers know the Kreidesee near Cuxhaven: With visibility up to 40 meters, it is considered legendary. The water is particularly clear because chalk was extracted here for cement production until 1976. Under the water surface lie the coveted targets of divers: sunken cars, a sunken sailboat, and an airplane.

But as exciting as the Kreidesee seems, it is also dangerous. At least 15 deaths have been recorded since the 1990s. Due to the good visibility conditions, the diving depth is often underestimated, in addition to the cold: The lake often has a water temperature of only eight degrees Celsius.

In the heart of the Rhine-Main area, in the Dietesheimer Quarries, lies the idyllic Vogelsberger See. It was created in the early 1980s after basalt mining ended. Today, it is a 61-hectare recreational area with lakes, forests, and rock formations.

But the idyll is deceptive: At the steep rock walls, the risk of injury is high, which is why swimming and boating are prohibited throughout the recreational area.

Particularly dangerous is the 14-meter-high Canyon Bridge. It connects the Oberwaldsee and Vogelsberger See. The view is magnificent, but unfortunately, it is a test of courage for teenagers to jump off the bridge. It's life-threatening! Those who dare to jump can break bones or even become paralyzed. You never know if there are rocks under the water surface.

The Blautopf near Ulm is famous for its blue color. This is created by a physical effect of light scattering. Due to the clarity of the water and the high lime content, the light is scattered millions of times on tiny lime particles. This makes the water appear so bright blue.

In the underground of the Blautopf lies the Blauhöhle and an underground cave system that poses dangers. As early as 1880, the first helmet diver entered the Blautopf, but it was not until 1957 that the bottom was reached by a diver.

After several diving accidents among hobby divers, some fatal, the Blautopf was closed for divers in the 1980s.

Lake Constance, Germany's largest lake, is impressive with its dimensions: It is 540 square kilometers in size, up to 63 kilometers long, up to 13 kilometers wide, and up to 254 meters deep. It's no wonder that there are also areas that are highly dangerous.

Between Konstanz-Wallhausen and Bodman in the Überlinger See lies the Teufelstisch. It is a rock needle in Lake Constance that ends just below the water surface.

Its steep rock walls, which lead about 90 meters deep, have long been popular-and feared-among divers. As diving accidents became more frequent, there was a repeated diving ban starting in 1977, which was expanded in 1994 and remains in place today.

What do travelers need to know now? All important news for your vacation can be found at bettercities.net, and the latest travel deals on our Deal Page.