Brandenburg - A Water Sports Paradise

Touring by Motorboat:
Brandenburg and Berlin offer 1,600 navigable kilometres and excellent conditions for touring by motor yacht or houseboat. Although the length of the network is impressive, the greatest holiday attraction is the diversity of waters. The "Brandenburg-Berlin Mix" with untouched rivers, idyllic canals and tranquil lakes is unique in Europe. Water hikers experience a wide variety of perspectives - lakes and woods, open countryside, wildlife and peaceful nature. In contrast, the cities of Potsdam and Brandenburg offer a wealth of sights and cultural experiences. There are modern mooring facilities with many services, resting points and high-standard waterside restaurants throughout the region. Countless quiet bays almost everywhere are ideal for dropping anchor. If you don’t own a boat, you can hire one of the hundreds of motor yachts or houseboats from a variety of companies. If you don’t have a skipper's permit, don’t worry. A charter permit is sufficient in northern Brandenburg and the Mecklenburg Lakeland area. Many hiring companies also offer permit-free houseboats with engines throttled below 5 hp.

Touring by Canoe:
Brandenburg's waters are a canoeist's paradise with 6,500 navigable kilometres. Being in tune with nature is the main attraction. Brandenburg has no rapids, but countless rivers and canals in idyllic, sparsely populated landscapes plus untouched woodland lakes. These appeal ta people seeking tranquillity, unspoiled nature and clear waters. Weak, often non-existent, currents usually make travel in both directions easy and offer ideal conditions for families and inexperienced canoeists. There is usually space far your boat and tent at the many camping sites en route. Almost every route now has public touring stops, camping sites and moorings. lt you don’t own a boat, it doesn't matter. There are now over 100 rental services with some 1,500 boats. Thev provide all you need for a canoe tour plus an introduction to the waters and the region. Many offer guided tours for several days, theme tours and transport for one-way tours.

Yachting Tours:
A wide range of tours and good winds make Berlin and Brandenburg a sailors' paradise. The most attractive districts, in brief: Scharmützelsee - Brandenburg's largest natural lake is a top venue for sailing with an area of 1,370 ha. Schwielochsee is an inside tip. Like Scharmützelsee, it also lies in the Oder-Dahme-Spree water-sport region. 10 km long and up to 2 km wide it has ideal stretches and winds (usually) in untouched natural surroundings. Werbellinsee lies in northeastern Brandenburg, at the heart of the Schorfheide forest area. Ideal for sailing, the lake is popular with Berliners. The Havel lakes around the town of Brandenburg form a large, enchanting sailing district. Eastwards from Brandenburg/Havel it's plain sailing into the Potsdam Waters. En route the Havel forms many lakes and bays and is almost always wide enough to easily avoid the rare cargo vessels or other sports boats. With few lakeside forests, wind conditions are often good.