Classification of Springs

Different water chemistry, temperatures, exposure, geographic setting, relief, water discharge, degree of shading as well as different substrate structures are all resulting in different characters of springs. The classification of springs into discrete types is still in discussion. Therefore it seems to be reasonable to set up an atlas of spring types for each natural geographic region, which describes and defines the important features of the springs present in this unit. For the Rhön mountains, such a spring type atlas is still lacking.

In the literature, natural springs are roughly divided into stream springs (rheocrene), seepage springs (helocrene) and pool springs (limnocrene). This classification is mainly based on the relief-depending way the water is discharged and runs off. However, a multitude of mixed types occur as well. In the present spring survey, these types are documented.