Rumors that German statistics know everything are somewhat exaggerated. For example, she does not know exactly how many lakes there are in Germany, answering this question only approximately – at least if you try to take into account every single one. An area of more than one hectare – from 15 thousand to 30 thousand.
However, natural and artificial reservoirs with an area of more than half a square kilometer are calculated exactly – exactly 969. In terms of the number of such large lakes, the lands of Mecklenburg – Vorpommern and Bavaria are in the lead. In the first of them there are a lot of flat lakes, in the second – mountain lakes.
Here we have collected photos of twenty of the most beautiful and popular German lakes in which swimming is officially allowed – that is, where water quality and other safety parameters are regularly monitored. At the same time, in Baden-Württemberg, for example, there are more than 300 such reservoirs for a beach holiday. In Brandenburg – more than three thousand, in North Rhine – Westphalia – more than 70.
Detailed lists of lakes for swimming in the federal states and maps on which they are marked can be found at www.seen.de. By the way, it also contains information on many other European countries, and also has separate thematic sections in German, devoted, for example, to holidays with children, camping, nudist beaches or cycling tours around or between lakes.
The best German lakes. Photo
lake constance
Lake Constance (Bodensee, Baden-Württemberg) is located on the border of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The largest lake in Germany. The area of the German part is 173 square kilometers. Through Lake Constance flows the Rhine, whose sources are in the Swiss Alps. In the photo – the city of Meersburg.
Kimze
Lake Chiemsee (Chiemsee, Bavaria) or the Bavarian Sea (Bayerisches Meer), as it is also willingly called, is located sixty kilometers from Munich. On one of the islands here is the Herrenchiemsee Palace, built for King Ludwig II.
Vanze
Lake Wannsee (Wannsee, Berlin) is a popular holiday destination for residents of the German capital and neighboring Potsdam. The first public beach was opened in 1907. This photo was taken a few years later. Also here you can visit Peacock Island – a unique park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Zakrovskoe lake
Zakrovskoe Lake (Sacrower See, Brandenburg) in Potsdam is another popular outdoor recreation area near the German capital. Through this lake near Berlin, as well as through the Wannsee, the river Havel flows.
Grosser Plehner See
Lake Grosser Plöner See (Schleswig-Holstein) is located on the territory of the Holstein Switzerland Nature Park and is one of the ten largest German lakes in terms of area.
Sharmützelsee
On Lake Scharmützelsee (Scharmützelsee, Brandenburg) is the resort of Bad Saarow, where in 1922-1923 Maxim Gorky improved his health – however, he lived in a different house, but in this building – “Villa Putti” – a museum was opened in 1972 dedicated to the stay of the famous proletarian writer on German soil.
Walchensee
Lake Walchensee (Walchensee, Bavaria) is located about eighty kilometers from Munich in the middle of the Bavarian Alps and is one of the deepest lakes in Germany – more than 190 meters.
Zilberze
“Silver Lake” Silbersee (Silbersee, North Rhine – Westphalia) is located near the town of Haltern am See. It got its name due to the color of the local sand. The next place from here is within easy reach…
Haltern Reservoir
The Haltern Reservoir (Halterner Stausee, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a popular recreation area for residents of the Ruhr region. The local dam was built in the late 1920s. The length of the beach is almost 800 meters.
Accused
Lake Eibsee (Eibsee, Bavaria) is located in the Bavarian Alps near the highest German mountain – Zugspitze. Known for its rich emerald green water and picturesque islands.
Shluhze
The mountain reservoir Schluchsee (Schluchsee, Baden-Württemberg) is located in the Black Forest at an altitude of 930 meters above sea level – higher than all other reservoirs in Germany.
ederze
The picturesque Edersee Lake (Edersee, Hesse) is part of the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, which, along with other Old German beech forests, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The dam of this reservoir was built in 1908-1914.
Grosser-Goitsese
Previously, lignite was mined in this region around Bitterfeld. The quarries were then filled with water. The resulting lakes have become popular recreational areas. In 2006, this sailboat built in 1890 was brought to Lake Großer Goitzschesee (Saxony-Anhalt).
Fühlinger See
This lake, created on the site of a gravel quarry, is located on the outskirts of Cologne in the district of Fühlingen. Fühlinger See (North Rhine – Westphalia) consists of seven lakes connected to each other. On one of them competitions in rowing and other water sports are held, and on the banks and in the local park there are music and various other festivals.
Muritz
Müritz (Müritzsee, Mecklenburg – Vorpommern) is the largest lake on the Mecklenburg lake plateau and the largest lake in Germany, entirely located in the country.
Dummer See
Lake Dümmersee (Dümmer See, Lower Saxony) can (almost) be forded – the deepest place does not exceed one and a half meters. There are many beautiful beaches here, as well as marinas for boats, yachts and boats. Various feathered waterfowl also feel great – for example, such coots.
Grosser-Stehlinze
Großer Stechlinsee (Brandenburg) is the deepest lake in Brandenburg (70 meters). It is famous for its very clean and clear water, which attracts many fans here just to swim or scuba dive.
Kospudener-Ze
Lake Cospudener See (Saxony) is located near Leipzig and is very popular among the inhabitants of this city. It was formed on the site of a former coal pit, which began to be flooded in the early 2000s. There is an 11-kilometer paved bike path around the lake. This photo was taken during a beach soccer tournament, which, however, is also eagerly played here in their free time from tournaments.
Schalse
Schalse (Schaalsee, Schleswig-Holstein) is one of the deepest lakes in Germany (71.5 meters). Located in a triangle between major German cities – Hamburg, Lübeck and Schwerin on the territory of the biosphere reserve.
Steinhuder Mehr
The German name for this largest lake in northwestern Germany uses the word for “sea” – Steinhuder Meer (Lower Saxony). It is the largest in northwestern Germany. In 1974, a park was created here – one of hundreds of natural parks in Germany. The main part of the holidaymakers are residents of Hanover. The lake even has an artificial island with a beach.