Lake Husemersee is known primarily for its idyllic bathing resorts, but there is much more to discover in terms of nature: water snakes, otters and a swamp landscape teeming with life. The nature reserve and the lake offer a few animal peculiarities. Orb-web spiders are so numerous that their webs are hard to miss. The snook, otherwise a rather rare fish, is also quite common in Lake Husemersee.
Geologically, the four natural lakes that make up the Husemersee are significant. The impenetrable moraine material that was deposited when the glaciers retreated forms the basis of the lakes. The dead ice masses prevented the gravel deposits and this is how the lakes were formed. This makes the Husemersee a dead ice lake.
The neighboring lakes were created during the World Wars, when coal was no longer being transported to Switzerland. Peat was mined here and sold to the city. This is how the ponds were created.
The snow-white stone
Once upon a time, a shepherd boy was grazing his animals on a lush meadow. Lying under the bright sun, the singing shepherd got thirsty. While searching for water, he found a small pond under a tall fir tree. He drank greedily from the pond. Then he discovered a bird's nest in the tree, which was reflected in the water. Like a squirrel, he climbed up the fir tree. But the nest was no longer to be found. When he was back down, disappointed, he tested his senses. Sure enough, there was the nest. He climbed up repeatedly, but to no avail. So he counted the branches in the water one by one and reached the nest. In it he found a pretty little white stone, which he immediately put away. In the evening, the goatherd drove his animals back to the village as usual. As always, he whistled and sang happily. But the people were frightened: the shepherd could only be heard, but not seen. The shepherd's father asked desperately whether he was in the witches' place or in the magic cave where he had become invisible. The boy told him about the stone and gave it to his father. The father disappeared and the boy was seen again. Desperately, the father threw the stone into the sod well. There was a crash, thunder and lightning. But everything remained as it was. Even the well remained.
A traveler who heard about the story offered a box full of thalers to anyone who would bring him the stone back. But the stone has remained missing ever since.
Access
There is a car park between Trüllikon and Ossingen. From there, or from Ossingen train station, the lake can be reached very quickly on foot. Several hiking trails lead around the lake.
