Elster reservoir Bösdorf, reservoir
Elster reservoir Bösdorf is a former water reservoir south of Leipzig that today consists mostly of open grassland. A long earth dam borders the site, while the flat terrain gives way to wide views across the surrounding countryside.
The reservoir was built in the 1930s to control the flow of the White Elster River. From the 1970s onward, nearby lignite mining lowered the water table and the basin gradually dried out.
The reservoir attracted locals for decades as a place to swim, sail, and spend free time near the water. Today it remains a space where people come to walk, rest, and enjoy the quiet outdoors away from the city.
The site is easy to reach on foot or by bike along simple tracks. There are no marked facilities on site, so a visit in the early morning or evening tends to be the most peaceful.
Wisents, one of the rarest cattle breeds in Europe, now graze on the dried-out basin where water once stood. Walking through the grassland, visitors can spot these large animals at close range, something most people do not expect to find here.
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