Blausteinsee, Artificial lake and recreation area in Eschweiler, Germany
Blausteinsee is an artificial lake south of Eschweiler in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, formed from a former surface mine. The water sits surrounded by wooded slopes on one side and open shoreline areas on the other, with paths running along the perimeter.
The site operated as a coal surface mine until 1987, when extraction ended and the pit was left to fill naturally. Water began accumulating in 1994, gradually forming the current body of water over the following years.
The name comes from the bluish tint of the water, caused by fine clay particles left from the mining era. Locals treat the shores as weekend gathering spots, where families set up near the water and sailors prepare their boats at wooden piers.
The area stays open year-round, though summer months draw most visitors who come to swim in the clear water. Several paths circle the shore and offer different views of the water and surrounding woodland.
Divers regularly explore the western shore, where submerged mining equipment rests on the lake floor and creates an unusual underwater landscape. Other sections remain protected and serve as nesting sites for waterbirds and amphibians that settled here after the flooding.
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