Lusatian Lake District

Lignite was dug from open-cast pits across Lusatia for a century, and when mining wound down from the 1990s the holes were flooded deliberately: around twenty-three lakes have been created, several linked by navigable canals with locks, forming the largest artificial lake district in Europe with a combined area of about a hundred and forty square kilometres. Filling took decades and continues in places. Floating houses moored on some lakes can be rented and moved. Ground stability remains an issue on former mine edges and some shores are fenced off. Rusted mining machinery has been left in place as monuments on several lakes.

The landscape

• The flooded pits - around twenty-three lakes made from open-cast mines.
• The linking canals - navigable channels with locks between lakes.
• The floating houses - rentable homes moored and moveable on the water.
• The left machinery - mining equipment preserved as landmarks.

When to go

May to September for boats and swimming; some lakes are still filling and not open. Check current access, as fencing and closures change with ground stability work.

What to expect

Some lakes and shores are closed for ground stability and this changes. Filling is incomplete in places. The landscape is young with little mature vegetation.

Nearby

Cottbus lies north; Dresden is south.