Metzingen-Glems invites - A hidden lake and the Swabian Jura foothills

In dem im Süddeutschen Raum einmaligen Obstbaumuseum Glems können das handwerkliche Verfahren des Mostereibetriebs und der Obstbau hautnah erlebt werden.

You reach Metzingen-Glems and the lake via the road from Metzingen-Neuhausen and Eningen unter Achalm. Starting point of the tour is the parking space near the lake (can also be reached by busline 100 from monday to saturday, departing Reutlingen, Dettingen and Bad Urach). Take the trail on the right hand site of the parking lot towards the lake that will be circled clockwise. The dam is no ordinary water catchment but is part of a pumped storage power plant. The power plant was build from 1962 to 1964 and cost 82 mio. Deutsche Mark. "Wasserschaukel", the dam is called by locals as the water is pumped from the lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation. The plant stores energy in form of water that is pumped into the the higher reservoir during low-cost off-peak electricity times. The water runs, from a 900.000 qm holding elevated reservoir, through a 1400m long and 3,2m wide pipe powering turbines to produce electricity. Every second the turbines are powered by 36qm of water and produce an output of 90.000 Watt. The plant is able to produce electricity for up to 6 hours. The water stored in the bottom catchment is pumped into the upper elevated reservoir during night time and on weekends. From the building holding the turbines, the track continues along the lake. Following the track, in the shade of the surrounding trees, it leads across a creek towards the biotop Greuth. The biotop is a habitat for several endangered species such as the marsh marigold, dragonflies, frogs and toads. Further on the way leads up to a crossroads. on the right lies a fish ladder, which connects the enclosed basin with the lake. Continuing on the originated path the lake stays behind while the track leads through the surrounding forest uphill. Crossing the “Grunzentobel”, a steep cut into the mountain, another crossroads lies ahead. the way on the right hans side leads back to the dam, from which the view across the lake and the Swabian Jura is amazing. Behind the Stausee- Hotel the mountain Grasberg (778m above sea level) rises. Left off the Grasberg the Glemser Talbucht continous and leads to Dettingen’s Rossberg with its lookouts. To the other side along the Tiefenbachtal the wineyards of the Ermstal shine in the distance. A sign holds the facts about the 4m wide and 29m long dam. Here ends the walkway around the lake. To get back to the parking lot continoue uphill.

http://www.mythos-schwaebische-alb.de/