Canal arm "Alte Fahrt"

In the 1930s, the Dortmund-Ems Canal had to be widened to accommodate the constantly growing shipping traffic of the time. The so-called "Alte Fahrt" had some very tight bends that were almost impossible for the growing ships to negotiate. As it was very difficult to widen the old canal channel alone, it was decided to build a new, parallel canal, the "Neue Fahrt". To the north of Seppenrade, the Old Canal Arm nature reserve remained and developed into a body of still water.

The area covers 12.3 hectares. The pond-like body of water, which is up to 25 meters wide and up to 2 meters deep, is surrounded on all sides by a strip of woodland around 10 meters wide. It is home to many breeding birds such as kingfishers, reed warblers, nightingales and reed buntings and even rare little grebes and marsh harriers. The variety of plants and rare flowers can be admired on a walk along the canal arm. The Old Canal Arm can also be used for fishing.

Old branch of the canal, Berenbrock, 59348 Lüdinghausen