This lovely lake, known as Aasee, is located southwest of the city center, about 15 minutes' walk from the Principal Markt. The lake dams the Aa River and protects Münster from flooding. On December 18, 1660, two earth walls surrounding the city collapsed, cutting off the city's water supply and flooding large parts of the city. Münster then surrendered to the besiegers.
There were still wetlands and swampy meadows caused by the 1660 flood where the Aa River ran until the early nineteenth century. These meadows were frequently flooded, and at times the water level rose high enough to flood Münster's historic downtown. Hermann Landois, a zoology professor in Münster, advocated for the construction of a "Aa basin" to better control the Aa River's level as early as 1888. At the same time, Landois wanted to ensure the city's drinking water supply with the reservoir, as well as enable sports like rowing, sailing, and swimming.
The lake should help to beautify the city while also reducing the source of pathogens by flushing the Aa bed, which also serves as a sewage canal for the city.
.JPG "Aa river connecting to Aasee (Münster)")
This lovely man-made lake is located southwest of the city center. It has a land area of 0.402 km2 (0.155 sq mi) and a length of about 2.3 km (1.4 mi). Its deepest point is 2 metres (79 inches). The lake is surrounded by numerous green spaces and trees, making it the city of Münster's largest recreational area.
Swimming is not permitted in the Aasee due to the high concentration of blue-green algae, but it does provide a limited water sports program for the people of Münster, including pedal boating, sailing, and rowing.
.JPG)
I asked a guy who works at this sailboat rental shop how much it costs per hour to rent a boat, and he said 25 euros per hour, but if someone rents for six hours, they only have to pay for five hours, so one hour is free.
Walking through the Aasee today, I was astounded to see some stunning birds, which I believe to be a family of Rose-ringed parakeets from the southern Indian subcontinent.
Ducks and waterhens are everywhere, giving the Aasee a vibrant, beautiful appearance.
Waterhens are everywhere in Münster.
In the evenings and especially on weekends, the Aasee is usually packed with people, which is lovely to exchange culture and practice the German language with the locals, as well as to watch the sunset, which is especially lovely after a long day of work.
