Schwale

The Schwale in Neumünster - Brachfeld

The Schwale is a western (right ) side of the river sturgeon in Schleswig -Holstein.

The Schwale has a length of 16 km and rises near Gönnebek in Segeberg. On the edge of fallow land woody plant, already in the city of Neumünster, discharges of approximately equal size Dosenbek, which is fed by Dosenmoor, in the Schwale. The largely untouched Schwaletal in Neumünster - fallow field in the east of the city is regarded as one of the most valuable nature reserves of Neumünster. Alone, 13 different bat species and 69 different breeding birds have made their home. After heavy rainfall accumulates in Schwaletal the water, because it can not easily flow through the city on towards sturgeon. The valley has the function of a natural water retention area and protects other areas of the city from flooding.

After the Schwale has passed under the inner ring road, it flows through the city of Neumünster, in the inner city it is dammed up to a pond. The pond was artificially created in the Middle Ages by monks, he is mentioned in documents for the first time in 1502. The pent-up force of Schwale was used to operate a mill. To this day, the mill bridge and the mill place by these terms. To further discharge of the pond in addition, a bypass flow, the Schleusau was artificially created. The Schleusau flows in a wide arc back to the Schwale, was partially cased, but exposed again in recent years and belongs to the recreation area of the city. Further downstream flows south of the Schwale Wittorfer castle in the sturgeon.

At the pond

Autumn at the Mill Pond

Schleusau " source "

Salmon ladder before Schleusau " source "

At the Schwale

The water of the Schwale was an important resource for the recovery of the leather industry in Neumünster in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. During this time came many pollutants, including colors and the dissolved heavy metals in the creek.