Germany turning abandoned coal mines into 23 lakes, becoming artificial wetland
In eastern Germany, former lignite mining pits are being transformed into a vast network of lakes, wetlands and restored land. Known as the Lusatian Lakeland, this ambitious project spans across Brandenburg and Saxony, between Berlin and Dresden. Covering around 14,000 hectares of water, the lakes are created by flooding abandoned open-cast mines and reshaping the surrounding terrain.
The transformation began in 1967 with Lake Senftenberg and has since expanded to include 23 post-mining lakes, making it one of Europe's largest artificial water landscapes.
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