Sights

Drifting Dunes and Lake Kulk

The Fuchsberg is the last large shifting dune on the dune deposits of Gerwisch-Heyrothsberge-Menz-Gommern on the east side of the lower Elbe terrace. The dunes were formed by the displacement of the sands from the glacial (melted snow) deposits and the Magdeburg Urstromtal during the late Ice Age (soft Ice Age) and the post-Ice Age, and therefore accumulated approx. 150 000 to 10 000 years ago.

   (Photo: V. Berger, Gommern)

Later relocation by westerly winds occurred up to the beginning of recorded time and shaped the steep northeast- and the flat southwest inclination of the dunes.
The dunes of Fuchsberg originally extended to the north of Lake Kulk and as far as Salzstrasse(Salt Street). After 1945 they were removed and used to a great extent as building material for the re-construction of Magdeburg; just as many of the dunes around Gommern fell victim to sand exploitation. An enclosed wooded dune deposits is still preserved in the residential area along the footpath of Gommern-Forsthaus Vogelsang (Ritterberg-Streitberge).

Since 1936 the drifting dunes have been a protected nature reserve.
The lake Kulk, an old quarry filled with water borders and is almost fully enclosed by the fine sand of this dune.

After the change of regime in 1990, the former quarry developed into a popular place of excursions. The fine sandy beach and the cool waters cool tempt you into lingering for a while. Even during the colder times of the year the region tempts people from both far and near.

The observation tower which was constructed in 1992 offers a splendid panorama of Gommern and its surroundings. You can see the castle in Leitzkau und on a clear day you can see the Cathedral in Magdeburg. In the years which followed the area around lake Kulk has been developed; a hotel complex was built, the stone garden was established, a children’s play area was built, a new footpath was built and the snack area was renovated.