Canoeing in the Rheinsberg Lake region and Müritz National Park

IMG_20150808_141154

North of Berlin, spanning the federal states of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, is a watery land, with many lakes, waterways, canals and swamps, all surrounded by forests that are alive with the sound of birds and insects. Here you can find the Müritz National Park and the Rheinsberg Lake Region.

Presentation1

Last weekend and last year we visited this lovely place for canoeing. It’s possible to rent canoes and kayaks in and around Priepert, which only about an hour and a half from Berlin. You can canoe along peaceful canals, surrounded by forests and filled with lily pads, ducks and swans, or across larger lakes and waterways, which you share with larger boats of all kinds.

IMG_20150808_095514

IMG_20150808_101713 IMG_20160505_183540IMG_20150808_115349 IMG_20150808_115806 IMG_20150808_122617

IMG_20150808_125155

IMG_20160716_173107

To cross between some areas you must go through locks, which is quite an experience when you’re in a small canoe or kayak and are sitting next to larger boats. We spotted boats from as far away as the Netherlands and Czech republic. Someone told us it’s possible to get all the way to the Baltic sea using the waterways. If it is possible, it looks like it would be quite a maze!

IMG_20160716_131507

For those who are new to locks, as I was, it’s basically a way of solving the problem of going “uphill” in a boat. You sail your boat into a lock, which has gates on each side, and while you wait inside they either pump water in, so that you rise up and are at the level of the higher water on the one side, or pump water out so that you end up at the level of the lower water on the other side.

IMG_20160716_132446

it’s quite a funny feeling to rise up while sitting in the boat. Normally there is a queue for the locks, so you sit and wait for a while for the ships from the other direction to pass through, and then are instructed when to enter the lock (big boats normally go first and little canoes or kayaks squeeze in afterwards).

IMG_20160716_163129 IMG_20160716_163331

IMG_20160716_165149

When you’re boating along you will come across a number of places selling food and drinks, there are even some vendors in boats.  One of the specialties in the area is smoked fish, and you can stop at a Raucherei (smokery) and buy a fishbrötchen (fish on a roll) containing smoked fish such as trout or salmon.

IMG_20160716_135147 IMG_20160716_142154-PANO

There’s no better way to experience a watery land than by being on the water. Here are a few more photos of this beautiful area.

IMG_20150808_114722 IMG_20150808_114728 IMG_20150808_114755 IMG_20150808_115532 IMG_20150808_120906 IMG_20150808_120910 IMG_20150808_121206 IMG_20150808_121240 IMG_20150808_135240 IMG_20150808_135539 IMG_20150808_141001 IMG_20150808_141114 IMG_20150808_141126 IMG_20150808_141143

IMG_20160716_105427 IMG_20160716_142154 IMG_20160716_143613-PANO IMG_20160716_173529IMG_20150808_141232 IMG_20150808_141314 IMG_20150808_142057 IMG_20150808_142113

IMG_20150808_142123 IMG_20150808_145010 IMG_20150808_180612 IMG_20150808_180814

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

3 thoughts on “Canoeing in the Rheinsberg Lake region and Müritz National Park

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *