Gosener Graben

Only the Gosener Graben runs through the protected Gosen meadows.

⦿Berlin and Brandenburg

Paddle tour, SUP tour: Gosener Graben

This surprising day trip through Berlin's largest nature reserve requires physical and boating skills. In the 1930s, the Gosener Graben was replaced by the parallel Gosener Canal for freight shipping, creating a small paradise for urban paddling and souping.

The natural Gosener Graben is a federal waterway and connects the Spree with the Dahme. At 783 hectares, the Müggelspreeniederung Köpenick is the largest nature reserve in Berlin. Part of it is the Gosener Wiesen with the Seddinsee lake in the north-eastern part of the protected area. This area consists of wet meadows and an alder swamp forest that is inaccessible on land. This makes it an ideal breeding area and habitat for birds and the best habitat for water-loving plants and animals - as well as ideal conditions for a canoe trip on the Gosener Graben. As the name suggests, the Gosener Graben with its side arms flows directly through the Gosener Wiesen and is a kind of micro-Spreewald. In 1936, the Gosener Graben was replaced by the parallel Gosen Canal for freight shipping. An expansion of the Gosener Graben would have taken too long. In February 1936, the parallel Gosen Canal was put into operation. This also made it possible for inland shipping to bypass the regatta courses in Grünau, which were closed during the Olympics. The 296-hectare Seddinsee is 4 kilometers long, 500 meters wide and up to 7 meters deep. Many Berliners enjoy all kinds of water sports there. The entire body of water is open to water sports. Only some sections of the shore are off-limits. In the middle of the lake is the island of Seddinwall, which is off-limits all year round. The island has a turbulent history. Pottery finds indicate that it has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. From around 1800, it had several very different owners and operators. In 1950, the German Canoeing Association of the GDR leased the island and a campsite for canoeists was established. The Landeskanuverband Berlin took over the lease in 1989 and continued to use the campsite exclusively until the contract expired in 2020.

Stages

Erkner – Seddinsee, Badestelle Gosen und zurück ... ca. 17 km

What is important when paddling on the tour Gosener Graben to consider?

Nature reserve, shipping lane, federal waterway, tree obstructions, observe navigation rules