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Only officially designated bathing lakes offer protection and safety
With rising temperatures, many people are drawn to lakes and bodies of water to cool off. However, swimming in unofficial gravel pits poses significant risks. The mining authority, located at the Darmstadt Regional Council, strongly warns against swimming in unofficial areas.
Invisible risks beneath the water's surface
What looks idyllic can be life-threatening: Steep banks, eroding shorelines, cold currents, and underwater mining equipment pose significant risks – even in long-abandoned gravel pits. Even minor vibrations can cause sudden collapses on unsecured banks. Cold water layers and currents also increase the risk of cold shock , which can put swimmers in distress.
"These risks are not apparent to laypersons," emphasizes the mining authority of the Darmstadt Regional Council. Climbing onto floating equipment such as excavators or conveyor belts is particularly dangerous – not only because of the risk of falling, but also because it constitutes trespassing.
Drowning in gravel pits: a sad reality
The German Lifesaving Association (DLRG) 411 drowning deaths in 2023 – the highest figure since 2019. Almost a third of these occurred in lakes, while only twelve deaths were registered in supervised swimming pools.
Official bathing lakes usually have supervisory staff such as swimming instructors or lifeguards – in contrast, at unofficial gravel pits, quick help is often not possible in an emergency.
Use official bathing areas
The Darmstadt Regional Council (RP Darmstadt) therefore strongly urges: For safe and enjoyable swimming, only officially designated bathing areas be used. An overview of bathing lakes in Hesse and their water quality is available online from the Hessian State Office for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (HLNUG) at:
👉 https://badeseen.hlnug.de
(DARMSTADT –RED/RP)
Featured image: Swimming is prohibited in this quarry lake. Photo: RP Darmstadt
