Großes Meer, nature reserve in Lower Saxony, Germany
Großes Meer is a protected natural area near Eydelstedt in Lower Saxony featuring a shallow lake of around 24 hectares surrounded by wetland and farmland. The water body itself averages just over one meter in depth and is bordered by reeds and aquatic plants, while the surrounding terrain remains sandy and flat.
The lake formed approximately 14,000 years ago after the last ice age as a depression left by moving glacial ice. The area has been under protection since 1942 and was once significantly larger before groundwater lowering in the 20th century reduced the water surface.
The name reflects what was once a much larger body of water that shaped the local landscape. Today the place serves residents and visitors as a space for walking, bird watching, and fishing where nature remains central to how people use the land.
Visitors should stay on marked paths to avoid disturbing plants and animals, and keep dogs leashed at all times. The area offers good opportunities for bird watching and walking through the flat landscape, with maps and information available from the Diepholz district authority.
The lake was once nearly 17 hectares in size but shrank significantly due to groundwater lowering in the 20th century. A local legend tells of a sacred forest that sank into water after a tragic event, creating the body of water seen today.
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