Region Finow Canal and river Oder
Landscape
Between the river Oder and the Ruppiner Region lies in the north of Berlin the Barnim Region. Discover the surrounding area of the Finow Canal including the Werbelliner Lake and the Havel-Oder-Waterway.
The area was formed by the glacial epoch. The extensive hilly landscape is covered with mixed forest and pinewood. The protected landscape and lake districts is an ideal area of recreation for biker, hiker and water sports enthusiasts - only 50 kilometres from the vibrant city of Berlin. Next to the natural highlights the region offers old churches, abbeys and castles as well as industrial benchmarks along the Finow Canal.
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Finow Canal and Havel-Oder-Waterway
The landscape of the Havel-Oder-Waterway is not very diversified due to professional shipping, therefore the cruise along the 400 year old Finow Canal is the better choice. The historical canal has been renovated in the 90's. The shore is abundantly covered with vegetation and bordered with high trees. Manually operated locks with industrial benchmarks along the canal give you the impression of another century. A rountrip with 12 locks on the Finow Canal and the boat-lift will enthuse lovers of locks. If you need a break from cruising than take your bike and discover the region on various cycle tracks.
The oldest boat lift in Germany which is still in operation is in Niederfinow. It is a descriptive example of engineering - please have a look on the right side for detailed information. There will be two boat lifts in 2014. The old one, build in 1934 (lenght: 85 metre), will be for leisure cruises and the new one (lenght: 115 metre) for transport ships. Niederfinow is already an attraction for visitors: over 500.000 people have already seen the construction site of the new boat-lift, the old one and the visitor centre. You will have a spectacular view on the construction site of the new boat lift if you are cruising through the old one.
pure nature - everywhere
Lower Oder valley
Right behind the boat lift starts the uncomplicated Hohensaaten-Friedrichsthaler-Waterway. The landscape is charaterised by pure nature. If you choose the river and not the canal than you cruise right through the binational national park Unteres Odertal (Lower Oder valley). The flooded grassland is a rest area for various water birds in spring and summer. There are no border controls anymore - Poland is part of the Schengen Agreement. Attractions ashore are the Lenné-Park in Criewen and the baroque palace garden in Schwedt.
Do not miss the metropol of Stettin which invites its guest in its excellent restaurants and exciting museums. It is a lot of fun to cruise around the international harbour of Stettin. The Dammerschen Lake in the northeast of Stettin has lots of fish, beaches, sportboat harbours and restaurants.
Werbellin Lake
Formed by the glacial epoch and up to 55 metres deep, the Werbelliner Lake is connected with the Havel-Oder-Waterway by a canal which is abundantly covered with vegetation. Due to the biospere reservation the lake has a very good water quality. The fisher can even catch whitefish. It is worth to go ashore and eat or buy fish - or take your chance to go fishing yourself?
Direction Berlin and Ruppiner Lakes
The lake Lehnitzsee is a change after the long canal cruises, but also the city of Oranienburg is worth a visit (oldest baroque castle in Brandenburg, garden with orangery). Another detour could be Sachenhausen (national memorial).
Sea eagles, beavers and otters can be found around the Ruppiner Lakes. Here you will find only sport and pleasure boats. If you would like to discover the capital of Germany with the boat than we recommand a oneway trip from or to Zeuthen.
| Cruising proposals | Days | Length | Locks | |
| HCR | Finow Canal-trip: Marienwerder, Finow Canal, boat-lift Niederfinow, Marienwerder | 3-7 | 56 km | 12+1 x boat-lift |
| HCR | Finow Canal-trip: Marienwerder, Finow Canal, boat-lift Niederfinow, Werbellin Lake and back | 5-7 | 96 km | 16 + 1 x boat-lift |
| HCR | Schorfheide-trip: Marienwerder, Templin, Lychen, Fürstenberg and back | 7 | 198 km | 20 |
| HCR | Ruppiner Lakes: Marienwerder, Oranienburg, Lindow and back | 7 | 212 km | 12 |
| HCR | Oder-trip: Marienwerder, Oderberg, Schwedt, Gartz, Stettin and back* | 7 | 208 km | 2-4 + 2 x boat-lift |
| HCR = home country
regulations** *not with the vetus and Haines boats (GRP-boats) **yachting licence for inland waterways, only required if your home country requires you to have a “Boat driving licence”. |
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| oneways only possible as proposed, or vice versa | ||||||
| from | to | over | days | length | locks | |
| HCR | Marienwerder | Zeuthen | Havel, Spree | 4-7 | 98 km | 3 |
| HCR | Marienwerder | Hafendorf Müritz | OHW | 4-7 | 127 km | 13 |
| HCR | Marienwerder | Schwerin | OHW | 7-10 | 271 km | 21 |
| HCR/ LOS | Marienwerder | Stralsund | Oder* | 7-10 | 323 km | 2 |
| *not with the vetus and Haines boats (GRP-boats) HCR = home country regulations**, LOS = yachting licence for offshore waters **licence only required if your home country requires you to have a "Boat Driving Licence". Please contact us for further information. |
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OHW = Upper-Havel-Waterways (Obere-Havel-Wasserstraße)
