Sandwater

The Sandwater at Simonswolde (municipality Ihlow ) in the district of Aurich is a flat Niedermoorsee on Geestrand and is one of the few surviving natural " inland seas " East Friesland. The pond was formed probably in the warm period of the Atlantic around 5000 years ago for the first time, then disappeared temporarily after a land uplift and climate change, to rise again around 2000 years ago.

The Sandwater and some surrounding wetlands are reported since 1973 in a total area of ​​59 hectares as a nature reserve. The extensive reedbeds have an important function as nesting and feeding area for reed nesting birds and waterfowl. However, this expanding reed causes a gradual silting and thus reduction of the open water surface - currently these are still about 0.223 km ² ( 22.3 ha). Here also characterize large-scale floating carpets of sea and water lilies the aspect that also accelerate the Silting and silting process. Since a reclamation of the lake beginning of the 1960s and the surface drainage around the original hydrology and trophic status of the water body is severely compromised. Previously had the Sandwater by a particularly rich underwater flora moderately nutrient -rich, clean waters excellent ( cf. name! ), For example, by many today rare species of pondweed as well as occurrence of frog orchid ( Luronium natans ) and Lesser Water ( Baldellia ranunculoides ). Today can be observed, among others, still frog bite, water spring, swan flower and arrowhead.

In winter, the shallow lake at appropriate temperatures is frozen over relatively quickly and is used as a skating rink.