Top 20 Lakes around Ober-Mörlen

The Kuhschwanzweiher near Brandoberndorf is an idyllic pond in the middle of the Hessian countryside. Surrounded by forest and hills, it offers a peaceful atmosphere, ideal for walks, picnics and bird watching. A hiking trail leads around the pond and reveals a variety of flora and fauna. Wildflowers bloom in spring and summer, and the trees are ablaze with color in autumn. The pond is a retreat for waterfowl and a popular destination for anglers and photographers. A shelter on the bank invites you to take a break. The Kuhschwanzweiher is easy to reach as it is just a few meters from the hiking car park there. It offers a perfect opportunity to relax.

Origin from the Wölfersheim opencast mine From 1937, the Braunkohlen-Schwel-Kraftwerk Hessen-Frankfurt AG (HEFRAG), a subsidiary of the Preußische Elektrizitäts AG (PREAG), operated several brown coal opencast mines in the Wetterau lignite mining area to supply the Wölfersheim opencast power plant. One of the first of these was the Wölfersheim opencast mine, right next to the power plant. After the fields there had been mined out in 1943, they were partially filled with waste and the area was recultivated. This left several remaining holes, which filled with groundwater over time. In addition to the largest, the Wölfersheimer See with 37 hectares, there are two smaller lakes a few hundred meters further east (Schwelteich in the Schwelteich nature reserve of Echzell) and to the north (Heldteich). Overall, the water areas take up less than half of the former open-cast mine.

The Wölfersheimer See is a lake east of the Hesse town of Wölfersheim. At almost 40 hectares, the lake is the largest in the Wetterau. It was created as an opencast mine residue lake after the closure of the Wölfersheim lignite opencast mine. It was later used as a cooling pond for the Wölfersheim power plant. Today it serves as a natural area, as a sailing area, as a fishing area and for local recreation. Swimming is prohibited. The lake (2023) no longer contains oxygen from a depth of two and a half meters; According to the State Office for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology, the phosphate content is 15 to 20 times higher than is acceptable for inland water.

Both ponds are barrier-free almost everywhere and are therefore suitable for wheelchairs. The viewing platforms are also wheelchair accessible..👍

There are several vantage points around the former quarry, some of which have been developed into real platforms. All offer a slightly different perspective.

The first source reports about the pond date from 1610. In the 18th century, water pipes ran from the Hattsteinweiher to the city center of Usingen. Its name comes from the Lords of Hattstein, who were burgraves in Usingen in the 15th century. In the mid-1970s, the city undertook a fundamental redesign and renovation. Camping operations were stopped and a sandy beach was created on the west side. As the smallest bathing area in Hesse, the Hattsteinweiher is still a popular tourist destination today. Even Elvis Presley, the King of Rock'n Roll, sought peace and refuge from the ever-present fans in front of his house in August 1959 during his military service in the US Army in Friedberg. Elvis visited the Hattsteinweiher on or around the first anniversary of the death of his beloved mother Gladys. At this time he was suffering from a lot of mental stress, his mood was correspondingly depressed and he wanted to avoid all hustle and bustle as much as possible. Although he was not entirely successful, Elvis still came to the Hattsteinweiher several times, especially since it was not far from his 'Army Home' Friedberg/Bad Nauheim. The 'King's' visits ensured that the bathing area became much more well-known and the Hattsteinweiher is now of historical importance, at least for millions of Elvis fans. With its size of 1.6 hectares, it is the largest pond in the Hintertaunus, next to the Meerpfuhl. It is an artificially created body of water that is fed by a spring stream from the Stockheimer Bach and technically extracted spring water.

The former quarry has developed into a natural paradise. The viewing platform also offers a good place to rest with a beautiful view.

After a tour of the northern or southern route of the Wetterau Lake District, a cold, brewed Fassbrause in the "beer garden" of the football golf course at Lake Wölfersheim is simply a must....👍👍👍🤗