Imagine the Wuhle flowing gently. It feeds into a serene lake right here in Berlin. This is the Wuhlebecken.
The Wuhlebecken is more than just a body of water. It’s a testament to Berlin’s ever-evolving landscape. This lake resides in Marzahn-Hellersdorf. Some folks call it the Wuhlesee.
At almost six hectares, the Wuhlebecken is one of the largest lakes formed by the Wuhle. Picture this: It stretches over 520 meters long. It is 110 meters wide at its broadest point. The Wuhlebecken reaches a depth of five meters. It holds a significant volume of freshwater.
But there’s a unique twist. The Wuhle doesn’t flow directly through the Wuhlebecken. Instead, it’s diverted via a side channel. Two locks control the water flow at each end of the lake. This creates a secluded bank between the lake and the side channel. This strip of land measures five to ten meters wide.
The Wuhlebecken and its surroundings are very scenic. The area beckons visitors for leisurely walks. On the eastern shore, you’ll find extensive reed beds. Also look for scattered tree groups. The western bank showcases newly planted weeping willows. Dense bushes and shrubs line much of the Wuhle’s embankment. This provides shelter for diverse plant and animal species. It creates a thriving biotope. The variety of vegetation near the banks distinguishes it from other bodies of water. Water birds find refuge here. They nest on the secluded dam. The Wuhlebecken is connected to the Spree. The fish population benefits from this connection.
Let’s journey back in time. The Wuhle originated around 18000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. It drained the melting glaciers. The Wuhle sits on the edge of Berlin’s glacial valley. Its source lies in Ahrensfelde.
Since the glaciers melted, the Wuhle has been fed by groundwater. Its humble beginning is a narrow ditch near Ahrensfelde Friedhof station. From there, it travels 16.4 kilometers to its confluence with the Spree. It overcomes a height difference of roughly 30 meters. The Wuhle and the Wuhlebecken are located above young moraine landscapes.
Originally, a long sand ridge occupied the Wuhlebecken’s current location. The Wuhle flowed around its western side. In the 1950s, the Wuhle and the Wuhlebecken were redesigned. The excavated material was used to construct the nearby Wuhlheide marshalling yard. Temporary tracks connected the Wuhlebecken to the railway yard construction site. The newly created lake helped lower the groundwater table. It also allowed sediment carried by the Wuhle to settle.
The Wuhle needed further expansion in the late 1980s. The Falkenberg treatment plant had taken over the function of the sewage farms. Purified water was discharged through the Wuhle. As larger volumes of wastewater needed disposal, the purified water outflow increased. The Wuhle’s discharge capacity was increased from nine to 15 cubic meters per second.
At the same time, the Wuhlebecken was dredged to a depth of five meters. It was bordered on the western side by a dam. Now the Wuhle flows around the lake. The aim was to regulate water flow and groundwater levels using a dam system. They also wanted to improve the water quality of the lake.
Today, the Wuhlebecken is a place of tranquility. It shows how humans and nature have shaped Berlin’s landscape. It’s a reminder of the city’s past. It highlights the ongoing efforts to preserve its natural beauty.