Ruins in Biosphärenreservat Schaalsee

There are various places with old buildings from the GDR era.

Old ruins. Very interesting to see

The areas of today's protected area were created during the last ice age. They lie in the Schaalsee basin, which was dug out during the Frankfurt ice advance. The Kirchensee, which is now nine meters long, is a former bay of the Schaalsee, today separated by the Strangen peninsula and the dam that was built in 1911 at the instigation of a Zarrentin pharmacist. Remains of pile dwellings were found in the Kirchensee, which indicate early settlement. More recently, the Strangen has been used as hut and peat has been mined. Lime was also removed for the production of burnt lime. Open areas were grazed with goats until 1896. In the 20th century, the areas were initially a popular destination with a restaurant and landing stage for passenger ships. From 1961 the areas were in the restricted area of the inner-German border. The last mines were only cleared in 1994.