Bullenseen, Glacial lakes group in Rotenburg, Germany
Bullenseen is a pair of glacial lakes near Rotenburg (Wümme) in Lower Saxony, surrounded by moorland terrain. One lake is noticeably larger than the other, and both sit within a protected nature reserve.
The lakes formed at the end of the last Ice Age as glacial ice retreated and left behind natural basins in the Wümme region. They were designated as a protected nature reserve in the 1930s.
The Bullenseen have long been a gathering spot for people from the area, especially on warm summer days when locals come to swim in the dark moorland water. The surrounding landscape draws walkers who follow the paths along the shore.
The larger lake has lifeguard supervision on weekends, making it the safer option for swimming. The water looks dark because of the surrounding moorland, which is completely natural but worth knowing before entering.
The lakes have no fish because the water is highly acidic from the moorland that surrounds them. This is not obvious from the surface, but it shapes the entire underwater ecosystem in a way that sets these waters apart.
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