Charlottensee

Charlottensee near Uhingen is a historical gem and a designated natural monument. Created at the beginning of the 15th century, the pond was artificially created, presumably as a watering place for cattle and for fish farming. As early as 1550, it was mentioned in a document as the largest of five former ponds. While the other ponds disappeared over the course of time, Charlottensee was able to avoid silting up thanks to targeted maintenance.

The still water is mainly fed by a small ditch inlet from the adjacent forest and by groundwater. The lake was last cleared of silt in 1999/2000 to slow down silting up. In addition, regular mowing of the pond roses prevents plant material from sinking and thus maintains the water surface.

The lake is located at an altitude of around 364 meters on the Schlierbacher Platte, part of the central Alb foreland, and is embedded in a diverse landscape. To the north-east and east, the lake borders the Birkenhau forest, a mixed oak-hornbeam-beech forest with numerous woodpecker caves. The Charlottenhof farm is located to the southwest, while residential areas border the lake to the north and northwest. A new housing estate is currently (2024) being built nearby in Seefeld.

In addition to the water surface, the 1.6-hectare natural monument also includes near-natural shore zones with reed beds and siltation areas. These diverse habitats make Charlottensee a valuable refuge for animals and plants and a place of tranquillity and nature experience in the middle of the region.