| Black Lauter | |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Germany |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Baden-Württemberg |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Esslingen |
| Length Km: | 2 |
| Source1 Elevation: | 535m (1,755feet) |
| Source1 Location: | in Schlatstall, a part of Lenningen |
| Mouth Location: | confluence with White Lauter, forming the Lauter |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 48.5386°N 9.4911°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 470m (1,540feet) |
| Tributaries Left: | Seltenbach |
The Black Lauter (de|Schwarze Lauter) is the left hand source of the river Lauter. It rises in Schlatstall from the Lauterquelle well and the Golden hole. Near Lenningen it joins the White Lauter, forming the Lauter.
At the mouth of the Kohlhau Valley, where it joins the Lenningen valley, lies the village of Schlatstall, which is now a part of the municipality of Lenningen. Near this village, there are a total of six karst wells. The sources, the narrow valley and the village are a popular hiking destination. The sources are part of a nature reserve. The two most important wells in terms of volume, are the Lauterquelle and the Goldloch.
The Lauterquelle, or Lauter Well, is 20m (70feet) ahead of the Lauter Mill, where the water-impermeable valley floor emerges. This source is so strong and rich that it could drive an overshot mill, the Lauter Mill.
The Goldloch, or Golden Hole, is only periodically active. This cave is about 100m (300feet) east of the other sources. The discharge varies between 200L/s3000L/s. The mouth of the cave was extended to its present size by miners in 1824–25. No gold was found.[1]
Trout are bred in the clean, oxygen-rich karst spring water. Water from all six wells flows into fish ponds on the eastern edge of the village of Schlattstall.