How the Großer Arbersee was created

The history of how our landscape formed is rarely as clear for everyone to see as it is here at the Großer Arbersee, where the Ice Age left an impressive mark.

The rocks of the Bavarian Forest formed inside the Earth around 640 million years ago. Significant climate change occurred 2.6 million years ago, and the previously warm temperate climate began to cool. Throughout eight ice ages with intervening warm periods, the Großer Arber, like the other high peaks of the Bavarian Forest, was covered with snow, ice and glaciers for extended periods.

During the last ice age, three large glaciers formed and started sliding under enormous pressure, flowing down into the valley. The glacier snouts formed abraded rock sections, moraine walls and ice age tarns. The most impressive relict of this glacial activity is the Großer Arbersee, which formed after the last ice masses melted around 10,000 years ago.

The power of glaciers

The enormous force of masses of ice created the Großer Arbersee and geological features such as moraines and cirques.

Ice Age – A lake is born!

Mighty ice formations created the Arbersee. Turn the cube and let yourself be transported back to the ice ages.