Wilmersdorfer See, Lake in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Germany.
Wilmersdorfer See is a former natural lake in the Berlin district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, now used as Volkspark Wilmersdorf. The site consists of open lawns, paths and play areas lined with trees.
In the 1880s, Otto Schramm opened a public swimming facility on the lake shore, which made the spot popular across the city. In the early 1900s the water was drained and the site was turned into a park for sports and recreation.
The lake gave Wilmersdorf its nickname "Seebad Wilmersdorf" after Otto Schramm opened a bathing establishment and coffee garden on the south shore in 1879. His Tanzpalast Schramm became so popular that "Gehn wir zu Schramm" entered Berlin slang, and a contemporary jingle ran "Karlineken, wat meenste, morjen jehn wa bei Schramm, een danzen."
The former lake bed lies in the western part of Volkspark Wilmersdorf, between Mecklenburgische Straße, Uhlandstraße and Bundesallee, with two sports fields and play areas. The park connects with Rudolph-Wilde-Park to form a 2.5 km green corridor about 150 m wide. The Schrammblock housing block borders the park on Am Volkspark, Schrammstraße, Hildegardstraße and Livländische Straße.
The ground here lies in a glacial hollow formed during the last ice age, which is why a lake could form naturally in this spot. That slight dip in the terrain is still visible as you walk through the park today.
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