Moossee

The Moss Lake is a 1954 standing under conservation lake near the village of Moosseedorf in Canton Bern, Switzerland.

Location

The Moss Lake is located in central Switzerland in the communes Moosseedorf and Schönbühl about 10 km north of Bern. About 2 km west of the Moss Lake is the village Münchenbuchsee. The catchment area of the lake is 20.8 km ². With the Urtenenbach the lake is drained to the confluence with the Emme at Bätterkinden.

Environment

North and east of Moss Lake, and the A6 motorway. In the west, between the lake and Münchenbuchsee is a golf and a campsite. Directly on the lake, on the south- west side, there is a restaurant, a boat rental and a fish farm on the south- eastern end of the beach of the municipality Moosseedorf. A direct forest connection is not available, the Moossee is relatively isolated in agriculturally used area.

Use

The increasing shortage of firewood led from 1777 to the Council of Bern let inquire in Holland, whether could be fired with peat. In the series were about 1795 from the Münchenbuchseemoos annual load of about 6000 to just over 2 m3, especially for the magisterial firing led to Bern. Due to the massive Torfgrabungen were encountered while rapidly into groundwater and thus the impetus for the lowering of the Moss Lake was given. At that time the Urtenenbach was jammed in the village Urtenen on the Kote 523 m to drive the local saw and oils. Through the action of the bailiff Karl Ludwig von Erlach in Landshut, the Council of Bern subsidized the installation of the saw after Hindelbank and oils by Jegenstorf. The neighboring communities also paid a portion and then the Urtenenbach could be lowered so that the lake level was 2.35 m deeper. This allowed more land to Torfausbeutung and additional soil for agricultural purposes are obtained.

Lowering of the lake level

Heavy rain led to the Moossee earlier today as flooding in the adjacent area. The threshold in Schönbrunnen is between Moss Valley / Urtenenbach and Lyssbach to 528 m altitude. Besides the Moospinte are all parts of the village made ​​before about 1850 higher. To use the water power, the creek was dammed in Urtenen to 523 m. Furthermore, in Schoenbuehl there since ancient time a natural flood - overflow to 525 m. The level of the lake is now at 521 m.

In the 1770s, Johann Rudolf Tschiffeli had co-founded the economic and Charitable Society of the Canton of Bern from his country house Hof ( " Tschiffelihaus " Schlössliweg 6) on improved agriculture and reclamation of the Moss Lake Valley back. As a result of Torfgrabungen there was a first lowering of the lake to 1780th The Urtenen was excavated and made ​​an initial goods merging.

But because later led flood and inadequate groundwater outflow again to stagnation, we therefore end in 1853 founded a preparation company. In February 1856, the Great Council approved the execution, which should lower the lake by another 2.4 m. End of 1857, the works were substantially completed. 1865, as the Company resolved after completion of the account and the maintenance of the work of emerging cooperative (now Waterways Association Urtenenbach ) are transmitted.

Beginning of the twentieth century resulted in the insufficient drainage of groundwater and lowering the surface of the land by the continued extraction of peat -powered to a renewed boggy of the area. Only after the end of World War II government and the Grand Council approved a further amelioration. This time was provided here in contrast to the two previous low Lowering of the lake level, the main measures were the drainage of the area and improve the discharge conditions. In order to obtain the required slope for the decisions taken in tubes inflowing streams and drainage lines, open the main channel above the small lake had to be applied very flat. Below the big lake, the channel bed was lowered by about a meter and the slope compensated on a per thousand. At the outflow of Lake weir was also built to allow held during dry periods, the water table and could be avoided in flood flooding in valley lying areas.

Based on the reductions is to assume that the lake was once much larger than it is today in our time.

Archeology

The lowering in 1780 resulted in a reduction of the lake level. As a result, discovered in 1856, the physician Dr. Uhlmann from Münchenbuchsee the remains of lake dwellings at the two ends of the lake. As regards the reputation of the Fund area the SJW - Issue # 18 " The lake dwellers from Moss Lake " by Hans Zulliger with a circulation of 200,000 contributed. In the latest construction activities for the beach at the east end of the lake, in the rescue excavations of the Archaeological Service other finds were documented and secured. We found a plank and palisade probably served as access and delineation to the Neolithic village. In addition, a dugout made ​​of linden wood, whose age is currently determined by the ETH Zurich.

Use today

The Moossee is claimed by various parties. It represents a popular destination for residents of the Bern region and is particularly in the summer months well attended accordingly. In addition to the outdoor pool at the mouth of the Urtenen bathing is prohibited. In cold winters the Moossee can be used for skating.

The existing since 1924 lido and was reconstructed several times. Originated with the last construction phase 2011-2012 are building on solid foundations increased erected to protect it in the future before the floods recurring. Also with great effort was built with a larger distance to the south bank, a new riverside path - new space for the restoration of the riparian reserve. The new beach and the newly created riverside path was opened on 2 June, 2012.

Lakeside is a private fishing rights. While 8 ½ months (April 15 to December 31) the lake for sport fishing is open. For the pursuit of fishing boats can be rented, private boats may not be used. Fishing is in Moossee mainly for pike, zander, perch and carp.

On the south shore of the lake a fish farm is located. This is feeding their fish with plankton, which it catches in Moossee. The fish farming, rearing and stocking fish, their spawning animals begins partly also in Moossee.