International Café: UFZ Excursion to the Mining and Lake Area of Leipzig Neuseenland

Wednesday 11 Jun 2025, 09:00 → 16:00 Europe/Berlin

The area surrounding Leipzig is characterized by a post-mining landscape. More than 22 post-mining lakes have emerged in recent decades, originating from intensive lignite mining, which has dramatically transformed the landscape since the beginning of the 20th century.

Photo: Dr. Michael Struzina

After the International Café organized two excursions to the Schleenhain opencast mining area and the Lippendorf power plant in 2017 and 2019 under the direction of Professor Holger Weiß, we are pleased to announce another mining-landscape excursion on June 11th. Professor Weiß is geologist and former head of the Department of Groundwater Remediation at the UFZ. He will provide us with scientifically sound insights into the impacts of the transformation processes, from coal mining to renaturation. An excursion bus will transport participants the approximately 100 km route to the individual stops on our tour.

Start: 9 am at the Leipzig UFZ main entrance/KUBUS venue (Permoserstr. 15)

Return: 4 pm (at the latest, same point)

Registration by 6 June via the link below

Tour stations:

1. Böhlen Industrial Park: Groundwater remediation

2. Pleiße weir: Acid Mine Drainage; iron hydroxide formation

3. Witznitz Energy Park: Germany's largest solar park

4. Hainer See: Reuse of a post-mining lake; water quality problems

5. Schleenhain overlook: Active open-cast mine in Saxony

6. Profen overlook: Active open-cast mine in Saxony-Anhalt

7. Zwenkauer See, Kap Zwenkau: Reuse of the open-cast mine lake

8. Zwenkauer See, western water side: Water quality and flood protection

The tour can be taken as part of a training programme and is free of charge for both employees and guests. A business trip will be entered for all participants by the People&Culture department. The aim of the excursion is to promote scientific and interdisciplinary exchange, acquire knowledge about the structural change in our region, and network with UFZ colleagues.

Participants are asked to wear sturdy shoes, bring provisions and a picnic blanket, and some change for an ice cream at the lake.

The organizers of the International Café (in cooperation with Ralf Trabitzsch, department ENVINF)