- 1. lake Senftenberg: the bathtub of the Saxons
- 2. ducts and transfer lines
- 3. the Partwitz lake: the quiet one
- 4. the Geierswald lake: the sporty one
- 5. the Großräschener See (from 2026): The waiting man
- 6 Lake Sedlitz (from 2026): The centre
- Lusatia's vision for the future: Small hurdles, big plans
Europe's largest man-made water landscape is being created where lignite was once mined. Lusatia is the setting for a project of the century.
Germany's fourth largest lake district has been growing between Berlin and Dresden for decades. Ten navigable lakes, created by the flooding of former open-cast mining holes in Lusatia, are merging into a huge, interconnected water landscape through transfers. The region is now facing a decisive milestone. Five of the central lakes and their connecting canals are to be opened for water sports in 2026. The man-made bodies of water between Senftenberg, Großräschen and Welzow have almost all reached their filling level, and the canals and locks have long since been completed. While Lake Großräschen already received partial clearance in June 2025, Lake Sedlitz, the Brandenburg part of Lake Geierswald and Lake Partwitz and the three overpasses Sorno Canal, Rosendorf Canal and Ilse Canal will follow in 2026. The clearance will open up completely new perspectives for water sports enthusiasts and tourism in the region. The resulting chain of lakes forms the centrepiece of the Lusatian Lakeland with a continuously navigable water area of around 7,000 hectares.
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1. lake Senftenberg: the bathtub of the Saxons
The opening of the lake in 1973 was the starting signal for the transformation of the open-cast mining landscape into a tourist recreation area in Lusatia. The fact that the region's most popular body of water was once an open-cast mine has almost been forgotten 50 years later. For decades, it has been the "family lake" with a wide range of leisure and recreational activities. The harbour camp on the southern shore is a well-known address for leisure skippers. Expeditours offers a wide range of rental boats here - from paddle boats to motorboats without a licence. However, the new Senftenberg town harbour, which opened in 2023, has given the lake an additional maritime quality. The modern facility with floating jetties, a service building and a large guest jetty will act as a gateway to the chain of lakes in future. A barrier-free lakeside promenade, the elegant pier and several catering options - from a harbour restaurant to a bistro - make the area a lively meeting place right on the water. With the opening of the surrounding lakes from 2026, boaters will be able to start day trips or even multi-day round trips from the city harbour for the first time. Instead of being a dead end, Lake Senftenberg will become the ideal starting and supply point - with restaurants, overnight accommodation and good transport links behind it. For charter companies, the networking of the lakes opens up new marketing opportunities, for water sports enthusiasts additional routes and for the region a significant boost as an area for beginners and families.
2. ducts and transfer lines
Since 2013, the Koschen Canal has connected Lake Senftenberg with Lake Geierswald. A self-service lock equalises the different water levels of the two lakes. The special feature: The canal passes under the B96 federal road and the rerouted Schwarze Elster river in a tunnel. The Barbara Canal, which connects Lake Geierswald with Lake Partwitz, has also been open to boats since 2019. However, in order to pass through the locks, bridges and tunnels, sailing boats need a mooring device for masts. The Sorno Canal, the Rosendorf Canal and the Ilse Canal will be opened in 2026.
3. the Partwitz lake: the quiet one
Lake Partwitz is still a quiet insider tip in Lusatia, but offers a surprising amount of space for water sports. The open water areas are popular with motor boaters, kayakers and stand-up paddlers. Please note: There is still no public access point at Lake Partwitz! At present, it is only possible to enter the lake from Geierswalder See via its entry point and the Barbara Canal. (Observe the passage rules and times of the Barbara Canal!) The nearest places to slip in are at the water hiking rest area on Geierswalder See and at the harbour camp on Senftenberger See. A public entry point at Lake Partwitz is planned as part of the construction of a marina by the municipality of Elsterheide. The wide shoreline is well suited for future water sports bases - and several municipalities are planning long-term bathing and leisure areas as well as catering facilities.
4. the Geierswald lake: the sporty one
With its wide range of water sports, Lake Geierswald shows what Lake Sedlitz and Lake Großräschen could soon look like. It is considered the most sporty of the network. In addition to the sailing and kitesurfing spots, the area has developed into a popular training ground for regatta sailors thanks to its wide beaches and good thermals. On the southern shore is the marina complex with a charter base, surf school and several restaurants, which is already designed for increasing boat frequencies. For overnight guests, there are floating houses and modern holiday lodges right on the water. What's more, the lake is the central hub between the Barbara Canal, the future Sorno Canal and the Rosendorf Canal - an ideal staging post for water hikers, who will be able to travel across several lakes for the first time in 2026.
5. the Großräschener See (from 2026): The waiting man
Lake Großräschen was created by the flooding of the Meuro open-cast mine from 2007. Today, the former mining town of Großräschen proudly advertises itself as a "lake town". Curiously, there was a completed but dry harbour basin here for several years. This is because the marina was built as part of an International Building Exhibition (IBA) project before the open-cast mining hole was flooded. The water level finally reached the harbour basin on 5 November 2017, and it was not until June 2025 that the first partial release for some boats took place. From 2026, all recreational boaters will be able to navigate the other lakes via the open overpasses without having to slip their boat. More than 60 guest berths are available for hire in the new harbour. The harbour, playground and the new town beach can be reached barrier-free via serpentines. The pier was created from a jettison boom from the open-cast mine and is already a popular photo motif as a landmark for the changing landscape. Right next to the pier, Brandenburg's steepest vineyard rises up in front of the IBA Terraces bistro with a 30 per cent incline. A company housed in the tourist information centre offers guided cycle tours through the post-mining landscape, for example with the title "From miner to sailor".
6 Lake Sedlitz (from 2026): The centre
Lake Sedlitz is one of the largest and most central components of the future Lusatian chain of lakes. Its release and that of the three new overpasses will create the centrepiece of the lake network, a continuously navigable area across five lakes. Its shore is still largely undeveloped, but it is set to become a hub in the coming years. In the small village of Lieske on the northern shore of the lake, the shoreline work has largely been completed. There is already a newly created car park with parking spaces for motorhomes and sanitary facilities. A barrier-free ramp leads down to the future bathing beach. Because the opening of the lake was delayed, the already filled beach is now partially overgrown. The reason for this was the dangerous and complicated shore stabilisation in open-cast mining holes. The deadwood in the water should be removed and the banks cleared by the time the lake opens. Companies from the maritime sector, boat builders, workshops and water sports service providers are to be established on an area of around 20 to 30 hectares on the northern shore. In Sedlitz Bay to the west, dolphins have already been driven for the future harbour. A large building in the shape of an upturned canoe is planned here as a maritime landmark with a harbour office and catering facilities. There will also be a pedestrian link from Sedlitz railway station to the southern shore of Lake Großräschen. Here - with a view of the "white town" of Großräschen and the bathing beach opposite - lakeside terraces with catering and water access are also to be created.
Lusatia's vision for the future: Small hurdles, big plans
In the future, ten artificial lakes will be connected by 13 navigable canals. Ten of the overpasses have already been completed. The Sorno Canal will create the connection between Lake Geierswald and Lake Sedlitz from 2026. The landmark that can be seen from afar, the Rusty Nail, is located here. A pier for passenger ships, water taxis and smaller charter boats is planned at the popular excursion destination for cyclists and hikers - a first step towards a regular service on the water. In order to enable the use of the open-cast mining lakes in Brandenburg, which are navigable across state borders, it was first necessary to amend the state shipping ordinance. However, apart from bureaucratic hurdles, bank stabilisation and the creation of overpasses, extensive investment in the infrastructure on the banks will be necessary in the coming years. Marinas with sufficient berths, as well as bases for water skiing, campsites and catering facilities are being planned at several locations. The waiting lists for moorings are long everywhere. If you ask around locally, there is still some scepticism about the anticipation. "We would like to build more jetties, but the steeply sloping banks of the old open-cast mining holes make piling dolphins an expensive pleasure," says Manuela Zahn, owner of Expeditours at the harbour camp on Lake Senftenberg. There would probably also be additional berths if the remaining five lakes were connected: Blunoer See, Sabrodter See, Neuwieser See, Bergener See and Spreetaler See. But it is not yet certain when this will happen. Only then will the project of the century in Lusatia really be completed.
