Meander fish passes, Fish ladder in Schwentinental near Kiel, Germany.
The Meander fish passes near Schwentinental form a spiraling channel with 36 basins arranged in a circular pattern over roughly 200 meters. This structure allows fish to navigate around the Rastorfer Mühle weir on the Schwentine River.
Construction began in 2004 at the Rastorfer Mühle power plant, with operations starting the following year. The project was developed to give migratory fish access to their upstream spawning grounds.
The structure generated discussions between environmental organizations, university researchers, and local fishing clubs regarding the balance of technological progress and ecological preservation.
You can view the structure from outside, and it is easily accessible for observation of the spiral design. Spring and fall offer the best times to visit, when fish migrations are most active.
The round arrangement of the basins reduces injuries to fish that might otherwise strike sharp edges. This circular approach was an innovative solution for fish passages in Germany.
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