Pleiße

Can you imagine a river so polluted it was nicknamed “Communists’ Puddle” and “Rio Phenole”? Here, by the Pleiße in Leipzig, that was once a harsh reality. The Pleiße, a river winding its way from the Drei-Linden-Brunnen near Zwickau to the White Elster in Leipzig, was not always a picturesque waterway. It was once a casualty of industrial progress, choked with waste from the carbochemical industry south of Leipzig. This pollution, rampant in the 20th century, left the lower Pleiße devoid of life, stained, and foul-smelling. The river, normally 115 kilometers long, had been shortened to 90 kilometers due to straightening south of Leipzig. This man-made alteration, coupled with industrial pollution, further degraded the Pleiße. The river’s plight became a symbol of environmental degradation in East Germany. On June 5, 1988, a “Pleiße Memorial March” protested this destruction. The Stasi attempted to suppress the march, but 120 to 140 people still raised their voices for the Pleiße. However, the story of the Pleiße doesn’t end in despair. With the fall of the East German regime and the closure of polluting industries in the 1990s, the river began a remarkable recovery. Today, the Pleiße once again teems with life. The water still has a slight brown tinge from iron compounds. But this discoloration is non-toxic, a lingering reminder of the region’s lignite mining past. The Pleiße, a vital part of Leipzig’s identity, flows through the heart of the city and into its cultural narrative. Johann Sebastian Bach, a Leipzig resident, even immortalized the river in his music. He featured the Pleiße in his cantata “Schleicht, spielende Wellen, BWV 206” and in “Auf, schmetternde Töne der muntern Trompeten, BWV 207a.” These compositions showcase the Pleiße, not as a polluted waterway, but as a gentle nymph playing with her waves. Today, as you stand by the Pleiße, you can enjoy its revitalized beauty. It is a testament to the resilience of nature and a symbol of Leipzig’s transformation. The Pleiße cycle path offers a wonderful way to experience the river’s journey. So, take a stroll or a bike ride along its banks, and let the Pleiße whisper its story of pollution, protest, and ultimately, rebirth.