Glacial cirque lakes in the Black Forest and the Vosges

There are 30 glacial cirque lakes – or tarns – in the Black Forest (Germany) and the Vosges (France). These lakes are relatively small and have an almost circular outline – with a maximum diameter of 200 meters. These lakes are relicts of the last glacial period. (Learn more)

The following map shows the location of these lakes.

Topographic map of Black Forest and Vosges with blue dots (not to scale) showing the location of the glacial cirque lakes.
Location of the glacial cirque lakes in Black Forest and Vosges (dot size not to scale). The name of those lakes are indicated that are presented in this photo gallery. Source for map: www.tessadem.com.

For more information on the history of these lakes, see this blogpost: English, German

Black Forest

Wildsee is located in the Black Forest National Park in a protected forest area (Bannwald area).

A photo taken from above of a lake surface, in which the coniferous trees of the opposite shore are reflected. White, bare branches of dead trees protrude from the water surface in the foreground.
Deadwood at Wildsee near Ruhestein.
In the twilight, a view opens up between dark coniferous trees down to a remote, basin-like lake, whose still surface reflects the deep blue of the evening sky. The lake lies hidden in a dense forest preserve, where lush green, needle-bearing trees contrast with pale, dead skeletal trees. Over the distant mountain slopes, the full moon is visible.
Moon rise over Wildsee.
View of the Wildsee on a summer day. In the background, a thundercloud towers over the distant mountains.
Wildsee on a summer's day.

Mummelsee is nowadays located on the busy Black Forest High Road (Schwarzwaldhochstraße).

A cirque lake at dusk seen brom above. There’s a hotel at the shore of the lake with illuminated windows. The picture is in dark blue with dark clouds developing at the sky. In a clear area of the sky, the moon shows up.
Mummelsee in the year 2006.
Snow-covered branches of a sunken tree show up from the ici surface of a frozen lake.
Mummelsee in winter.

Glaswaldsee is located in a remote location south-west of Freudenstadt.

A photo taken at dawn. Dark mountain ridges under a red sky. In the dark below, a tiny lake reflects the light of the sky.
Glaswaldsee at dawn.
Glaswaldsee photographed through branches of trees from above in spring.
Glaswaldsee. The nearly circular shape of the lake can be recognized on this photograph very clearly.
A lake with a rock that is perfectly reflected on the water surface. The upper part (with the rock and the trees on the opposite shoreline) and the lower part of the photograph are perfectly symmetrical mirrors.
Glaswaldsee.

Huzenbacher See

Panorama of a lake seen through trees. On the lake surface, water lilies are reflecting the sun light.
Water lilies on the Huzenbacher See.
From a mountain slope, you look down to the Huzenbacher See with its nearly cirque shape. The lake is located in a depression and surrounded by a deep forest. The surface of the lake is partly covered by areas of moor. As the photo was made in winter, these areas are partly covered by hoarfrost shing brightly.
Huzenbacher See.
Huzenbacher See seen at late afternoon through trees with water lilies reflecting the light of the sky. The photo transfers a mystical mood.
Huzenbacher See.

Schurmsee

In a depression, surrounded by deep dark coniferous forest, the surface of a little lake reflects the remaining light of the sky at dusk. The surrounding mountains are bathed in blue light. Above them, the full moon.
Schurmsee is surrounded by dense forest.
Schurmsee seen in winter with the water surface frozen. The low sun is partly covered by atree and produces a sun star.
Schurmsee in winter.

Buhlbachsee

Panorama of a lake at a late summer day with the low sun reflecting on the surface.
Buhlbachsee on a summer's day. Here, you can notice that the free water surface diminishes over time, and often floating islands of turf form which, in the course of time, are colonized by bushes and even trees.

Ellbachsee

Ellbachsee seen from a mountain in winter. The water surface of this lake is nearly overgrown. In the background, mountain ranges are still shining in the light of the setting sun.
Ellbachsee in winter.

Herrenwieser See

A lake seen through trees photographed back light.
Herrenwieser See.

Vosges

Lac des Perches

A lake seen from above with the sun light brighly reflected by the lake surface.
Lac des Perches.
A lake seen through beech forest yellow in autumn. The photo is taken back light, so the sun light shines behind the leaves and the lake brightly reflects the sun light which shines through the branches.
Lac des Perches in autumn.
A lake seen from above at night with the full moon in the sky (slightly dimmed by high altitude clouds) and the moon light reflected on the lake surface. In the backgriund, a mountain landscape with valleys. In the valleys, the lights of smaller villages illuminate the night.
Lac des Perches in a full moon night.

Lac des Corbeaux

A lake at night with the starry sky reflected on the water surface. A rock protrudes from the water which is a black shape.
Lac des Corbeaux.

Lac de la Maix is located in a cirque which is open exactly into northern direction.

A beech tree at a lake shore illuminated back light. Behind the tree, the water of the lake reflects the sun light brightly.
Lac de La Maix.
Star trails are reflected in a lake at night. Since the photo was taken directly facing north and the horizon, with the row of trees on the opposite shore, was placed in the center, the star trails form two arcs that are symmetrically mirrored.
Trails of the northern stars as photographed in a long exposure during a whole night of June.

Here, you can see a timelapse video from the same night at Lac de la Maix.