The World of WATER

May we pass you the WATER?
The world of nature offers ideal possibilities for eventful water roaming between Berlin and the Baltic Sea. Enjoy your stay on the water as everything else is taken care of. How about a canoe tour on the historical Finow canal? This was built in 1605 already and is the oldest man-made water route in operation in Germany. The old technology of the vertical lift and bascule bridges and the locks is still functioning. Left and right of the Finow canal extensive moor and green areas, forests and alder marshes invite you to stay and discover flora and fauna. White storks, marsh harriers, grey herons, coots and moorhens and with a little bit of luck even kingfishers, cranes, black stork, beavers or fish otters can be seen here.

You should also take the opportunity...
...for a walk around the countryside and have a look around Eberswalde. A walk in the family garden is just as recommended as the forest botanical garden, one of the oldest in Europe, and the zoo, which is well-known far beyond the borders of the town. Not far from Eberswalde there is an extensive collection of aviation history at the Finow airport, which is very popular with both young and old. On the eastern part of the Finow canal you can experience a technical work of the century - the ship lift in Niederfinow. Visitors from all over the world come to admire this unique memorial of German technical history put into operation in 1934. The trough of the ship lift can overcome a difference in height of 36 m in just 5 minutes. Passenger ships or a canoe can pass through the ship lift and you can experience live how the height difference is overcome.
Someone who wishes to paddle from the picturesque little town of Oderberg, known for its inland shipping museum further in direction east, can reach the Polder region of the national park lower Oder valley and the adjacent Polish paddling districts via the Hohensaaten-Friedrichsthaler water route. There are also numerous interesting opportunities to go on land in this region. We recommend you to visit the geological garden in Stolzenhagen and the national park house in Criewen, in the direct vicinity of which there is the wonderful Lennepark with castle. The free view over the Oder valley from the castle ruins Grützpott in Stolpe is definitely worth the ascent.
Not far from Criewen is the town of Schwedt/Oder. You can take part in the park festival of the Uckermark stages Schwedt, almost from the water here as the idyllic natural stage is only separated from the bank of the old Oder through the Oder-Neiße bicycle path.
For relaxing after an eventful day paddling we recommend a short visit to the waterpark AquariUM. If you continue your water tour in direction north, you will directly pass the second biggest tobacco-producing region in Germany. Numerous tobacco barns bear witness to the long growing tradition in this region.

Entertaining information...
...about the history of the Uckermark tobacco growing can be found in the tobacco museum in Vierraden. You should also plan a little visit to Gartz (old town with small town farmers' museum) and a visit to the aquapark Laguna in Greifenhagen (Gryfino), before you then continue to Stettin (castle of the Pommerian dukes, old town, hook terraces) and Police, yes maybe even paddle to the Baltic Sea. For someone who prefers to travel by ferry instead of by canoe, the world of nature also offers interesting possibilities. Offers of the passenger shipping can also be found among others at the Werbellin Lake, on the Lychen, Templin and Prenzlau Lakes or also on the Finow canal and in the area of the Oder.

Have fun on your water-adventure-route!