Lake Thun

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Lake Thun
Thunersee
image_lake = Thunersee.jpg
caption_lake = View with Thun from the Niederhorn
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Canton of Berne
coords = coord|46|41|N|7|43|E|region:CH-BE_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type = oligotrophic - mesotrophic
inflow = Aar
outflow = Aar
catchment = 2,500 km²
basin_countries = Switzerland
length = 17.5 km
width = 3.5 km
area = 48.3 km²
depth = 136 m
max-depth = 217 m
volume = 6.5 km³
residence_time = 684 days
shore =
elevation = 558 m
islands =
cities = Thun, Spiez

Lake Thun ( _de. Thunersee) is a lake just north of the Alps, in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. It took its name from the city of Thun, which is on its northern shore.

Lake Thun's approximately 2,500 km² large catchment area frequently causes local flooding after heavy rainfalls. This occurs because the river Aar ( _de. Aare), which drains Lake Thun, has only limited capacity to handle the excess runoff.

The lake is fed by water from Lake Brienz to the south east, which lies 6 metres higher than Lake Thun and various streams in the Oberland, including the Kander. Lake Thun was created after the last ice age and was originally part of Lake Brienz. The historic combined lake is called "Wendelsee" by geologists and historians.

Fishing is important enough to keep a handful of professional fishers employed. In 2001 the total catch was 53,000 kg. Since 1835 passenger ships have operated on the lake. There are ten passenger ships in total, operated by the local railway company BLS Lötschbergbahn.

External links

* [http://www.thunersee.ch/ Lake Thun Tourism Portal]
* [http://www.hochwasserschutzthunersee.ch Hochwasserschutz Thunersee] de icon - water regulation scheme at Thun
* [http://www.hydrodaten.admin.ch/e/2093.htm Hydrological data for Lake Thun] at Spiez - historic and current data: waterlevels