The Ewaldsee

In the south of Herten at the border of the neighbouring city Gelsenkirchen the Ewaldsee is located. That, in the course of the motorway construction developed body of standing water, which served the nearby pit Ewald as a cooling water reservoir, is now habitat for various animal and plant species. The recreational value of this part of the Emscherbruch does not only open up for natural lovers.

The lake with its rich source of enjoys great popularity among fishermen, but it became also a favoured place for ornithologists. Here they find numerous species of water birds like different seagulls, mallards, coots, moorhens, mute swans as well as potential endangered species like tufted ducks and grebes. Also the heron, the acrocephalus scirpaceus and the for the Ruhr area rather rarely dabchick are often to see at the Ewaldsee. Furthermore the Daubenton`s bat belongs to the habitué.

Two loop roads, which begin at the south end of the lake, are available for the rambler. The shorter route runs along the bank, the longer way encases the eastern neighbouring forest up to the Ewaldstreet. Diversified woodland comes to the fore: beech, sycamores belong to it, on oak and birch forest with single, well interspersed conifers. Also birch forests rich of fern with small waters and narrow reed zones and after all a “classic” beech-Hallen forest invites to an attentive walk. A natural trail offers interested ramblers orientation.