Upper Sternberg Pond

The ponds were created in the 1970s as part of a planned but never realized amusement park. Today they are of great importance as a habitat for aquatic organisms: Large areas of the bank zone of the upper pond consist of reeds, a form of vegetation that is rare in Bochum. Both bodies of water provide a habitat for waterfowl: for example for mallard and coot (correctly actually "Blässrale") as well as for the non-native Canada goose, a "zoo refugee" that has been spreading rapidly for several years. Toads, frogs and newts only spend a few weeks of the year in the ponds: on warm, damp nights in spring, they leave their surrounding winter quarters and migrate to the spawning waters to mate. So that they are not run over when crossing Stembergstrasse, the city of Bochum then installs toad fences at the roadside. The amphibians fall into collecting containers and are carried by hand to the spawning water.

The ponds were created in the 1970s as part of a planned but never realized amusement park. Today they are of great importance as a habitat for aquatic organisms: Large areas of the shore zone of the upper pond consist of reed beds, a type of vegetation that is rare in Bochum.
Both bodies of water provide a habitat for waterfowl: For example, for mallards and coots (actually "coarse cradle" correctly) as well as for the non-native Canada goose, a "zoo escapee" that has been spreading rapidly for several years.
Toads, frogs and newts only spend a few weeks of the year in the ponds: on warm, humid spring nights, they leave their surrounding winter quarters and migrate to the spawning waters to mate. The city of Bochum then installs toad fences at the roadside so that they are not run over when crossing Sternbergstraße. The amphibians fall into collection containers and are carried by hand to the spawning waters.

There is a beautiful view of the pond from the nature trail.