Once upon a time, the Panke needed a friend and that is how the Nordgraben came to be. The Nordgraben is a drainage ditch in the north of Berlin. It links the Panke to the Tegeler See.
The Nordgraben’s story began between 1927 and 1938. It was built to regulate the Panke’s water level. The Panke often flooded due to a lot of water coming from the fields. The Nordgraben was made to help with this. It was also planned as part of a bigger project, the Berliner Nordkanal.
But here’s a twist. The Nordkanal was never built. World War II began and the money for the project was gone. All that was left was the Nordgraben.
The Nordgraben had some bad effects too. It lowered the groundwater level. One groundwater monitoring station even dried up in 1938. But in 1980, the Panke flooded again after heavy rains. People used sandbags to stop major damage.
In 1980, the fields were no longer used in Pankow. The Nordgraben did not need as much water anymore. Since then, the water level has been controlled. The Nordgraben has the water number 5819692. Its average flow is one cubic meter per second.
Several smaller ditches flow into the Nordgraben. The Zingergraben used to flow into the Panke but the Nordgraben cut it off. Now, water from the Zingergraben flows to the Nordgraben through the Panke. Water from the Lietzengraben and Kreuzgraben also reaches the Nordgraben via the Panke.
After Germany reunited, there were plans for a new road in the north. This road, the Nordtangente, would run along the Nordgraben. But environmentalists opposed it. They worried it would harm natural areas. In 2003, the plans for the road were dropped. The city said there was less traffic than expected.
The path next to the Nordgraben is part of the Humboldtspur. This is a green path in Berlin. People like to walk and bike here. It is a nice alternative to the official Berlin Wall Trail on Heinz-Brandt-Straße.
The path along the Nordgraben was improved in 2013. The path was fixed and widened. Now, it is easier for everyone to use. People who have trouble walking, families and tourists can all enjoy the path.
The Nordgraben has seen a lot of changes. From its start as part of a grand plan to its role today as a green space, it remains an important part of Berlin’s landscape. So as you walk or bike along the Nordgraben, remember its history. It is a story of big plans, unexpected turns and nature adapting to the needs of the city.