It will consist of Lake Großräschen, Lake Sedlitz, the Partwitz and Geierswald lakes, which are partly on Saxon territory, and Lake Senftenberg, which was flooded 50 years ago and became a popular local recreation area. The continuous navigability of around 25 kilometres is achieved by a total of five overpasses, short artificial connecting channels. The only lock in the Lusatian Lakeland to date is located between Lake Senftenberg and Lake Geierswald. In the course of the overpass between Lakes Großräschen and Sedlitz, the waterway also passes under a main road and railway line via a tunnel.
Sixth in Germany in terms of size
At around 51 square kilometres, the total area of the lakes connected so far will be between that of Lake Ammer (47 square kilometres) and Lake Starnberg (56 square kilometres). In a Germany-wide comparison of size, the two Bavarian lakes are in 5th and 6th place. The planned connection of further lakes in the east of the region in the medium term is likely to increase the total area of the Lusatian Lakeland even further.
To date, the flooded former open-cast mining pits, the overpasses and shoreline areas are still under so-called mining supervision, as they are former mining areas. The new agreement between the Lausitzer und Mitteldeutsche Bergbau-Verwaltungsgesellschaft (LMBV) and the Brandenburg state government creates the legal basis for the intended opening of the waters for sports and sailing boats as well as water hiking, swimming and diving by 2026.
100 million already invested in the Lusatian Lakeland
Over the past twenty years, the federal state has already spent 100 million euros on hydraulic engineering and public infrastructure in the Lusatian Lakeland. This includes, for example, beaches, jetties and harbours for pleasure boats and sailors in order to increase the region's appeal to tourists. The agreement on the planned utilisation from 2026 is also intended to create planning security for local authorities, associations and investors.
Agreements were reached on issues such as waterway maintenance, traffic safety and liability. The next step is to amend Brandenburg's state shipping regulations - to create the legal basis for transport on water where there was previously no water.
