Source of the Danube
As early as 1847 the following definition can already be found in the "Universallexikon des Großherzogtums Baden" (Universal Lexicon of the Grand Duchy of Baden): “Danube, the biggest river of Germany, rises at the Martinskapelle in a wild and lonely area of the Black Forest, is called Brege at its origin and forms the river Danube in Donaueschingen where it is unified with the Brigach." (German original: „Donau, der größte Fluß Deutschlands, entspringt bei der Martinskapelle in einer wilden und einsamen Gegend des Schwarzwaldes, heißt am Anfang Brege… und bildet erst in Donaueschingen, wo sie sich mit der Brigach vereinigt, die Donau.“)
Lauter (Danube)
The Lauter, also: "Große Lauter", is a small river of the Swabian Alb, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Its Karst spring is inside the walls of the former nunnery at "Offenhausen", a small settlement near Gomadingen. The river discharges into the Danube after 42 km. The river has a long geological history since late Miocene. Although the Swabian Alb is heavily karstified, this river's water runs aboveground all the way.