Transforming Cottbus: From Mines to Lakes

Cottbus, a city in eastern Germany, is undertaking an ambitious project to convert former lignite mining pits into a large artificial lake, named Cottbusse Ostsee. The city's urban planners envision this lake as a picturesque recreational area, likening it to a mini Baltic Sea, complete with sandy beaches. The project aims to address both aesthetic concerns and safety issues posed by abandoned mining sites that resemble a Swiss cheese landscape. The lake's development not only focuses on beautification but also on restoring ecological balance in the region, benefiting both the environment and local communities.