The Phoenixsee in Dortmund is a prime example of the structural change in the Ruhr area city and today serves as a popular local recreation area. Located on the site of the former Phoenix-Ost steelworks, the artificial lake was opened to the public in 2011. With a length of 1.2 kilometers, a maximum width of 310 meters and an area of around 24 hectares, its size even exceeds that of the Hamburg Alster. The maximum depth of the lake is around 4.6 meters and it holds around 600,000 cubic meters of water.
The creation of the Phoenix Lake began with excavation work in September 2006, while the flooding began in October 2010 and lasted about a year. The official opening and release of the shore area to the public took place on May 9, 2011, with the lake also being accessible for water sports such as sailing with small boats since April 2012. However, swimming, surfing, diving and fishing are not permitted.
The Phoenixsee not only serves for recreation and leisure activities, but also as a rainwater retention basin for flood prevention for the Emscher and contributes to the renaturation of the Emschertal. A phosphate elimination plant ensures the lake's good water quality by filtering and recycling the water.
The area around the lake has developed into an attractive residential and commercial area that includes modern architecture and high-quality apartments, offices as well as restaurants and retail. On the west bank of the lake, an area with restaurants and shops invites you to stroll and linger. The concept envisages that restaurants are located on the ground floor and offices, practices and apartments on the upper floors. Several restaurants, cafés and an ice cream parlor have already been established, which are popular meeting places by the water, especially in the summer months.
Lake Phoenix offers visitors a variety of activities such as walking, jogging, cycling or skating on the approximately 3.2 kilometer long footpaths and cycle paths. The lake and its surroundings are therefore a symbol of the successful transformation of an industrial brownfield site into a lively urban district that meets the needs of both its residents and visitors.