Ahlhorner Fischteiche

The starting point of the hike is the "Am Karpfen" parking lot. From here, it goes directly to the Ahlhorn fish ponds. Their history dates back to 1898, when the Oldenburg State Culture Fund began acquiring land for carp pond farming in order to supply the population with protein-rich food. Around 35 of the ponds created at that time from sand dunes, heathland and moorland are still in operation today, where mainly carp, but also other freshwater fish are reared. To the south of the ponds runs the small river
Lethe, which supplies the site with fresh water. Past the Kirchteich pond with its viewing tower, the route leads to the Schwanensee lake with its rest area and on to the Helenensee lake. A detour to the cozy church of St. Petri and the fish ponds is well worthwhile. There you will also find the Ahlhorn log cabin, a conference and meeting place primarily
for teenagers, young adults and groups of guests. We also recommend a detour - past the "Twelve Apostles" natural monument - to the historic pond farm with the lavishly renovated "Old Hälterhaus". There is a permanent exhibition on the
history of fish farming and the ecology of the area. In the pond farm store, hikers can purchase delicacies from the fish smokehouse and the forestry office's own hunt before returning to the parking lot.