Constance
LAKE OF (ancient Lacus Brigantinus; German Bodensee), a lake of central Europe, in which Switzerland, Baden, Württemberg, Bavaria, and Austria meet; forming a reservoir in the course of the Rhine; length N. W. to S. E. 42 miles, greatest breadth about 8 miles; area 207 square miles. At its N. W. extremity the lake divides into two branches or arms, each about 14 miles long; the N. called Überlingersee after the town of Überlingen, on the N. bank; the S. the Zellersee, or Untersee, in which is the fertile island of Reichenau, 3 miles long. The lake, which is of a dark-green hue, is subject to 3 miles long. The lake, which a dark-green hue, is subject to sudden risings, the causes of which It freezes in unknown. are severe winters only. The traffic on it is considerable.