Have you ever felt the whisper of history in the gentle lapping of water? Here at Gordensee you can. This isn’t just any lake. It’s a living testament to the passage of time a place where glacial forces and human history intertwine.
Gordensee or Zummel as it was once known is a kidney-shaped lake just 1.5 kilometers north of Quenzsee. It’s part of a much larger glacial landscape shaped during the Weichsel glaciation. This glacial formation can be traced from south of the Gallberg and Schwarzen Berg through Bohnenlander See eventually reaching Quenzsee.
The lake itself is relatively shallow only reaching a maximum depth of two meters. Yet its 40 hectares hold a surprising amount of history. Did you know that Gordensee was once twice as long? The construction of the Quenzgraben a man-made outflow has sadly led to significant water loss and a resulting silting process. The lake is slowly disappearing.
The name Gordensee is a relatively recent addition. While it was once known as Zummel a name possibly derived from the Slavic word for catfish this name is now primarily used for the northern now silted section. Gordensee’s name comes from the nearby Gorden district whose name is itself of Slavic origin meaning “high elevated settlement”.
Today Gordensee serves as a beloved local recreation area. In summer locals and tourists alike enjoy swimming at the eastern shore. In winter the lake transforms into a popular ice-skating spot. Its shallow and calm nature makes it safe for winter sports. Runners and walkers also appreciate the 6.3 km running course around its perimeter.
The Gordensee-Bohnenlander See area is a protected landscape. This beautiful area is also home to annual amphibian migrations. The animals are protected from traffic on the Anton-Saefkow-Allee by specially designed channels.
Standing here by the Gordensee today we’re not just looking at a lake. We’re witnessing a story unfolding. A story of glacial sculpting of human settlement and of a lake slowly yielding to the passage of time. It’s a quiet poignant story and one that deserves to be remembered.