Lake Steinhude,, , is a lake in Lower Saxony, Germany located 30 km northwest of Hanover. Named after the nearby village of Steinhude, it has an area of about 30 km2, making it the largest lake of northwestern Germany. At the same time, Lake Steinhude is very shallow, with an average depth of only 1.35 m and a maximum depth of less than 3 m. It lies within a region known as the Hanoverian Moor Geest.

Geology

It is part of the glacial landscape formed after the recession of the glaciers of the latest Ice Age, the Weichselian glaciation. There are two theories regarding how the lake of Steinhude was formed. One of them says that glaciers gouged out the hole and meltwater filled it. The other theory states that an ice storm formed the hole and as the groundwater rose, the lake was created. In its middle there is a small artificial island carrying an 18th-century fortification, the Wilhelmstein. Today the lake is the heart of a nature reserve, the Steinhuder Meer Nature Park, and is also used as a recreational area.

Islands

The lake has two islands, both of them artificial:

Tourism

The lake is a popular destination for locals and for vacationists. Up to three ships offer cruises; they are supplemented by smaller boats running on schedule across the lake. A bike path approximately 35 km long encircles the lake, crossing various landscapes.