Ahlhorner fish ponds

The starting point of the hike is the parking lot "Am Karpfen". From here, you can head directly to the Ahlhorner Fish Ponds. Their history dates back to 1898 when the Oldenburg State Agricultural Fund began acquiring land for a carp pond farming operation to provide the population with protein-rich food. Today, about 35 ponds, originally created from sand dunes, heathlands, and moors, are still in operation, producing mainly carp but also other freshwater fish. To the south of the ponds runs the river Lethe, which supplies the facility with fresh water. Passing by the church pond with its observation tower, you will reach the Swan Lake with a rest area and continue on to Helenensee. Worth a detour is the cozy St. Petri church by the fish ponds. There you will also find the Ahlhorn log cabin, a meeting and conference place especially for young people, young adults, and guest groups. Also recommended is a side trip - past the natural monument "Twelve Apostles" - to the historic fish farming area with the meticulously restored "Old Hälterhaus". There, a permanent exhibition highlights the history of fish farming and the ecology of the area. In the farm shop of the fish farm, hikers can purchase delicacies from the fish smokehouse and the forestry-owned hunting grounds before returning to the parking lot.