“What’s that structure rising above the trees?” That’s the question many ask when they first spot the Aussichtsturm Meeschenhaken. This observation tower offers stunning views of the Dummersdorfer Ufer. It lets you gaze upon the Untertrave and the opposite Trave shore in Mecklenburg.
The Aussichtsturm Meeschenhaken is located in a diverse natural area. This area features steep banks, beaches, shallow water zones and woodland. You can also find pastures, wet meadows and ponds. The Ice Age once shaped these unique geological formations. One example is a ravine dating back to that era.
A walk to the Aussichtsturm Meeschenhaken is worth it. From its platform, you can see the Untertrave. You can also see the Trave shore across the way in Mecklenburg.
The Naturschutzgebiet Dummersdorfer Ufer has become a recreational area. Lübeckers love it. The Kücknitz population enjoys it too. More recently, Travemünde vacationers visit as well. The varied landscape is full of hills and lowlands. There are open areas bordered by hedgerows and closed woodlands. A network of hiking trails crisscrosses the area. The steep bank and beaches along the Trave provide excellent opportunities for relaxation.
From the Aussichtsturm Meeschenhaken, you get a good view. You can see the Trave and its boat traffic. The opposite Pötenitzer Wiek is also visible. So is the southern tip of the Priwall peninsula. Watch ferries loading and unloading at the nearby Skandinavienkai. The tower offers a great chance to watch birds migrating over the Trave valley.
The Aussichtsturm Meeschenhaken project became a reality because of generous donations. The private Hamburger Engelbert and Hertha Albers-Stiftung contributed. So did the Gemeinnützigen Sparkassenstiftung zu Lübeck. The Landschaftspflegeverein Dummersdorfer Ufer also donated. Proceeds from an art auction at the Lübeck Kunsthaus helped too.
The Aussichtsturm Meeschenhaken allows wanderers to witness the contrasts. They can see modern port technology and leisurely natural development. To the left is the port. Straight ahead is the waterway. To the right is the nature reserve.
The tower is not the only highlight. The Stülper Huk has remains of a Slavic fortification. The Dummersdorfer Ufer is a geological highlight. The broad Untertrave is a fjord. It is a glacial hollow flooded by the Baltic Sea. Hydrologically, it’s an erosion valley. This valley cut deep into the glacial hollow. It flooded 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. That explains the steep riverbanks.
Standing atop the Aussichtsturm Meeschenhaken, one grasps the area’s beauty. The Aussichtsturm Meeschenhaken shows visitors the beauty of nature. It also shows the importance of preserving such spaces.