Bregenzer Ache

Lower reaches of the Bregenzerach

The Bregenzerach (also Bregenz Ache or Bregenzerach ) is an approximately 80 km long tributary of Lake Constance in the Austrian province of Vorarlberg. The river drains with a catchment area of ​​about 830 km ² almost the entire surface of the Bregenz Forest and with an average water flow of 41 m³ / s, the most important river in the northern part of the federal state. It is named after the Oh the capital of Vorarlberg Bregenz, for which it constitutes the border with the neighboring communities and Hard Lauterach.

• 2.1 Traffic
• 2.2 Sport
• 2.3 energy

Geography

River

The Bregenzerach originates on the eastern flank of the Mohnenfluh above Schröcken in Lechquellengebirge in 2400 meters altitude. You drained with its tributaries the northern part of Lechquellen Mountains, the western part of the Allgäu Alps, large portions of the Bregenz Forest Mountains to the northwest. Along with the Valley of the Bregenzerach also reflects the colonization of the Bregenz Forest. Almost all the villages and towns of the Bregenz Forest are located in the Valley of the Bregenzerach or in the valley of one of its tributaries.

After approximately 80 km river flows the Bregenzerach as municipal boundary between the state capital Bregenz and the market town of Hard in Lake Constance.

Tributaries

Of the numerous tributaries of the Bregenzerach the rotách and Weißach (with Bolgenach ) and the Subersach in the middle reaches of the most significant. They are the ones that form the distinctive valleys of the so-called front Forest, which are crucial for its colonization.

Use

Traffic

Always put the Bregenzerach for the region's farmers a traffic engineering challenge only a few places was the unpredictable river safely passable, so soon arose first bridge structures. Some of these wooden structures still exist today and are under preservation order. However, they also modern bridges partly of considerable proportions, about the Lingen Auer High Bridge, one of the highest reinforced concrete arch bridges in Central Europe.

Currently follows the Bregenzerwaldstraße ( L200 ) from Egg in the widest part of its course through the Bregenzerwald course of the river Bregenzerach and the valley created by it. From Bregenz to Bezau also followed the Bregenzerwaldbahn to decommissioning the river.

Sports

The lower reaches of the Bregenzerach is also important for tourism because of its suitability for the white water sports and can be driven all year. Novice in these sports can prove special courses; Accommodations, parking and camping sites are available. The upper reaches of the Ah is a strong whitewater and is therefore more interesting for experienced athletes. However, it is through the construction of hydroelectric power plants (eg power station Andel book ) and water discharges only in the spring, or even later after heavy rains, passable. A weir at the Weissach - mouth is used to regulate the amount of water for friends of whitewater kayaking or kayak. On the Oh kayaking will be held as part of the Outdoor Trophy, an extreme - season competition with the disciplines of mountain running, paragliding, white water kayaking and mountain biking.

Energy

The Bregenz Ach and its tributaries (FMV ) used by five hydroelectric power plants in Vorarlberg AG to produce electrical energy. Among these is the power plant Langenegg that uses the Bolgenach and Subersach, also the largest FMV power plant. Besides that, there the power plants Alberschwende and Andel book as well as the small power plants in Au and Schoppernau.