European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A Swan sails Over smooth water along the West Shore of Lake Mur he waterfowl Are abundant throughout the the Mecklenburg Lake District. The Mecklenburg Lake District is the Minnesota of Germany a Region of innumerable lakes flashy lowlands Fertile Farmland and thick forests a. It is an area scraped Flat and gouged out by glaciers during the ice age where Reedy shorelines slope up to greening Fields and stands of Pine. At the fringes of the Region the terrain rises to the gently rolling Beech Woods. Of the terminal Moraine landscape that characterizes a. Much of the state of Fleck Lenburg Vor Pommert because of the Low population density the air and water Are still remarkably Pristine. Largest and most spectacular of the More than 7,000 lakes in the Region is Lake Moritz whose name comes. A from the ancient slavic word that Means Quot Small  with a surface area of 46 Square Miles Lake Moritz is also the largest Lake in Eastern Germany it is 17 Miles Long and 6 mites wide with a maximum depth of 10fj feel. Other Large Well known lakes Are the cd Lapiri Lake Plator Lake a Malchine Lake and Wolberger Lake. Many of the lakes Are connected by a network of Rivers and canals. A a a a it is a huge area a More than 2,500 Square Miles a bounded roughly by Austrov and Tuterow in the North Neu Brandenburg in the East i Row in the South and. Parchim and Sternberg in the West the informal capital of the Mecklenburg Lake District is Varen a town of 24,000 at. The Northern end of Lake Muritz. Theodor Fontane a 19th Century German writer wrote of Waren  wonderful air with its Pine fragrance Quot but when we drove into the City on a Gray late autumn afternoon it was a different a fragrance Quot thai hit our nostrils the pungent Sulphur stench of Brown Coal smoke. Waren is a Good example of the ravages of the near fatal socioeconomic disease that was last German communism. Thence picturesque spa town is now a Down at the heels would be Industrial City. In the old City historic half timbered buildings Are crumbling windowless Helis. Along the waterfront an old Brick warehouse in danger of collapse looms above a dirt potholed parking Tot. And above it All the Ever present giant smokestacks a unofficial icon of East Germany a  their quota of pollution. The biggest employers include traditional sem dirty industries a foundry a Sawmill and a cardboard factory. The one fairly attractive Point is the spacious Market Square with the Isth a enquiry City Hall. A few shops and stores show signs of improvement. But the streets and  Are Muddy and in disrepair. A. The East German government in a perversion of logic. Named Waren a clean air resort. This meant that it was approved As a recuperation spot for people with respiratory ailments. Of course it is True that the air in Waren is Dean compared to the larger cities of the East. Or if the wind is blowing in the right direction you May breathe freely depending on what part of town you Are in. A. A a in general wherever you travel in the Mecklenburg 1 Lake District the natural landscape is appealing but the. Man made one is not. It is the same old Story. Shabby tumbledown towns deteriorating landmarks and few facilities for travellers. One landmark that has been a preserved is the Klink Castle a on the Western Shore of Lake Muritz a which at least of the exterior is a regional showpiece. From the Beach in front of the Castle you can see the giant eyesore of the former National Volks Armee National Peoples army resort hotel a mile Down the. Shore w hich looks fikh it belongs on Miami Beach. But considering that it suffered 40 years of communism the Mecklenburg Lake District is remarkably u spoiled. Much of the Region is under protected status the largest nature Reserve on the East Shore of Lake Muritz covers More than 15,000 acres. The Topography makes it Art. Important habitat for Birds and other wildlife. Ducks. Geese coot and cormorants pro All at Home Here As Are. Cranes ospreys and Golden eagles. In the fall flocks of. A a migrating waterfowl can fill the skies. A a. Since the lakes Are Stilt quite clean they also support. Healthy  a sport fisheries. The mos popular sport fish is the Pike. A Karin Wiessmer director  Waren information. Oil ice says Many surprised Western tourists have told her a Quot we Don t know what a Paradise we live in Quot the regions Topography and hydrography Are natural hindrances to. 6 stripes Magazine december 13, 1990