Achterwasser
Encyclopedia
The Achterwasser is a lagoon forming a bay on the Peenestrom
river, which flows into the Baltic Sea
, and like that estuary
is an inland coastal waterbody. This lagoon extends so far into the island of Usedom
, that it is only separated from the Baltic Sea by a narrow barrier spit
between Ückeritz
and Zinnowitz
. It is bordered in the north by the peninsula of Gnitz and in the south by the Lieper Winkel. The reed-lined, south-eastern bay is called the Balmer See, the one in the southwest, which can only be accessed with difficulty on its western shore is the Krienker See.
In past centuries the barrier protecting the lagoon was sometimes breached by the Baltic Sea during storm surge
s that flooded across the island of Usedom, when the narrowest part of the land bridge between Zempin
and Koserow
at Rieckgraben (near Lüttenort) was flooded. This land bridge between the Achterwasser and the Baltic Sea is only 300 metres wide.
The Achterwasser is not very deep, and is a popular surfing and sailing area. The beach sand on the Achterwasser on the peninsula of Gnitz is not as fine-grained as that on the Baltic Sea beach of Usedom. The bottom of the Achterwasser is very stony.
Peenestrom
The Peenestrom is a strait or river in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is 20 Kilometers long and is the westernmost connection of the Szczecin Lagoon with the Baltic Sea. It is therefore also one of the three distributaries of the Oder....
river, which flows into the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, and like that estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
is an inland coastal waterbody. This lagoon extends so far into the island of Usedom
Usedom
Usedom is a Baltic Sea island on the border between Germany and Poland. It is situated north of the Szczecin Lagoon estuary of the River Oder in Pomerania...
, that it is only separated from the Baltic Sea by a narrow barrier spit
Spit (landform)
A spit or sandspit is a deposition landform found off coasts. At one end, spits connect to land, and extend into the sea. A spit is a type of bar or beach that develops where a re-entrant occurs, such as at cove's headlands, by the process of longshore drift...
between Ückeritz
Ückeritz
Ückeritz is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.- External links :*...
and Zinnowitz
Zinnowitz
Zinnowitz is a spa town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the northern German island of Usedom on the Baltic Sea. The town has rail connections to Wolgast and Ahlbeck.-History:...
. It is bordered in the north by the peninsula of Gnitz and in the south by the Lieper Winkel. The reed-lined, south-eastern bay is called the Balmer See, the one in the southwest, which can only be accessed with difficulty on its western shore is the Krienker See.
In past centuries the barrier protecting the lagoon was sometimes breached by the Baltic Sea during storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
s that flooded across the island of Usedom, when the narrowest part of the land bridge between Zempin
Zempin
Zempin is a German municipality and the smallest seaside resort on Usedom island. It lies between Zinnowitz and Koserow on the narrowest part of the island, between the Baltic Sea and the Achterwasser, a bay of the Oder Lagoon....
and Koserow
Koserow
Koserow is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. As of 2009 it has a population of 1,693.A small coastal bathing resort, Koserow lies on an isthmus on the island of Usedom on the Baltic Sea, near the border with Poland...
at Rieckgraben (near Lüttenort) was flooded. This land bridge between the Achterwasser and the Baltic Sea is only 300 metres wide.
The Achterwasser is not very deep, and is a popular surfing and sailing area. The beach sand on the Achterwasser on the peninsula of Gnitz is not as fine-grained as that on the Baltic Sea beach of Usedom. The bottom of the Achterwasser is very stony.
Villages and geographical features on the Achterwasser
- Lieper Winkel
- Krienker See (bay) and former Dewicho Manor House (Rittergut Dewichow) on its eastern shore
- Balmer See - bay
- ÜckeritzÜckeritzÜckeritz is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.- External links :*...
- southern edge - LoddinLoddinLoddin is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.-External links:*...
and Loddiner Höft - KoserowKoserowKoserow is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. As of 2009 it has a population of 1,693.A small coastal bathing resort, Koserow lies on an isthmus on the island of Usedom on the Baltic Sea, near the border with Poland...
- southern edge - ZempinZempinZempin is a German municipality and the smallest seaside resort on Usedom island. It lies between Zinnowitz and Koserow on the narrowest part of the island, between the Baltic Sea and the Achterwasser, a bay of the Oder Lagoon....
- southern edge - Peninsula of Gnitz / LütowLütowLütow is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.-External links:...