Germany is set to finish a decades-long conversion of former lignite mines in Lusatia into Europe's largest artificial lake landscape, spanning 14,000 hectares. Lake Sedlitz, the final lake in the network, will open for swimming and boating later this month, following the flooding of pits that began with Lake Senftenberg in 1967. The region, located between Berlin and Dresden, previously had few natural lakes due to its permeable sand and gravel soil.
euronews.com
· 2026-10-09
Germany's Lusatian Lakeland, located between Berlin and Dresden across Brandenburg and Saxony, now comprises 23 artificial lakes covering roughly 14,000 hectares, created by flooding former open-cast lignite mines. The transformation began in 1967 with Lake Senftenberg, which was fully flooded by 1972 and opened to the public in 1973, and has continued for decades using groundwater and water diverted from rivers. Mining-rehabilitation company LMBV says five of the lakes are now linked into a connected waterway, with further integration planned.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2026-10-09
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