Lusatian Lake District opens: Europe's largest artificial lake landscape is complete

Dimensions in comparison

Structural change in the region has been driven forward since the 1990s with considerable financial resources. According to its own figures, the LMBV alone has spent 941 million euros on remediating the areas under its responsibility. According to the company, the contiguous water surface of around 5,100 hectares is roughly equivalent to half of the Müritz in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the largest lake lying entirely within Germany.

The Sedlitzer See is one of the main bodies of water in the new lake district. It connects with other lakes to form a continuous waterway that is to be further expanded in the coming years. The Senftenberger See, which was already opened in the 1970s, is also part of the larger ensemble and serves as a point of comparison for the scale of the current project.

From open-cast mine to recreational landscape

The Lusatian lake chain spans both the Brandenburg and the Saxon parts of Lusatia and, according to the project participants, extends as far as Neu-Seeland. The lake landscape thus stretches across two German federal states and forms a contiguous recreational and natural area.

With the opening, the transformation from an industrial to a recreational landscape becomes visible. The LMBV accompanied the recultivation — that is, the redesign of the former open-cast mining areas — over decades. Pits have become bathing beaches, harbors, and marinas.

Outlook for the coming months

In addition to tourism, the region also hopes for economic impetus. New gastronomy businesses, accommodation options, and water sports centers have settled along the lakes. The opening is also regarded as a symbol of successful structural change following the end of active lignite mining in large parts of Lusatia.

The official commissioning of the lake district coincided with the completion of the main construction and flooding works. In the coming months, further jetties, viewpoints, and cycling paths around the lakes are to be finished so that visitors can experience the new landscape in its full scope.