View source for Dassower See

{{Infobox lake
 |name = Dassower See <br> Lake Dassow<br>Dassow Bay
 |image = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0326-300, Blick über den Dassower See.jpg
 |caption = View of the lake in 1990.
 |image_bathymetry = 
 |caption_bathymetry = 
 |location = Northeast of [[Lübeck]] ([[Schleswig-Holstein]])
|pushpin_map=Schleswig-Holstein
 |coords = {{coord|53|54|N|10|55|E|type:waterbody_region:DE|display=inline,title}}
 |type = 
 |inflow = [[Stepenitz (Trave)|Stepenitz]]
 |outflow = [[Trave]]
 |catchment = 
 |basin_countries = Germany
 |length = {{convert|8|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
 |width = 
 |area = {{convert|8|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
 |depth = 
 |max-depth = 
 |volume = 
 |residence_time = 
 |shore = 
 |elevation = 
 |islands = 
 |cities = [[Dassow]]
}}
Despite its name, the '''Dassower See ''' ({{audio|De-Dassower See.ogg|German pronunciation}}), sometimes called '''Lake Dassow''' or '''Dassow Bay''' in English, is not a [[lake]], but a side bay, locally known as a ''wiek'', of the [[Trave Fjord]], northeast of [[Lübeck]] ([[Schleswig-Holstein]]) on the [[Baltic Sea]].

== Geography ==
The town of [[Dassow]] in the district [[Nordwestmecklenburg]] is the only large settlement on the shores of the bay. The Dassower See is a [[saltwater]] bay, which together with the [[Pötenitzer Wiek]] is almost fully cut off from the open sea and the [[Bay of Lübeck]] by the [[Priwall Peninsula]]. The bay is approximately {{convert|8|sqkm|sqmi|0|adj=on}} in area and has a funnel-like shape extending outwards from the mouth of the River [[Stepenitz (Trave)|Stepenitz]] in the southeast and narrowing again in the northwest where it enters the [[Pötenitzer Wiek]] to approximately {{convert|300|m|ft}}. At the mouth of the Stepenitz, near the [[Dassow Bridge]], is a small landing stage for fishing boats from Dassow.

The bay belongs to the city of Lübeck, and its entire shoreline forms part of the western border of [[Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania]].

== Flora and fauna ==
As home to approximately 30 kinds of duck, the Dassower See is one of the largest bird reserves in Germany. The lake provides refuge and is also an important migration and wintering area for Nordic water fowl that shelter on its two islands of grass and reeds. The entire shore of the Dassower See and the bay itself have been protected by the [[European Union]] since 1983.

== History ==
Tourism and land development was not permitted until German reunification as the entire lakeshore range was a restricted area. The GDR had erected a wall, several metres high, along the shore, so the lake could not be seen from East Germany. Entering the prohibited area was possible only with special permission. The border runs along the flood line, so that during normal water levels a narrow strip along the bank belongs to Schleswig-Holstein which was part of the Federal Republic. Thus, boats could ply the Trave delta without hindrance.

== Sights ==
The castle of Schloss Lütgenhof is situated on the shore of the Dassower See. Moritz von Paepcke designed and built this castle in 1839. [[Mast-Jägermeister AG]] converted Schloss Lütgenhof to a restaurant and hotel with twenty-three rooms in 1999.

== Literature ==
* Manfred Diehl, Dorothea Diehl: ''Naturschutzgebiete an der Ostseeküste Schleswig-Holsteins.'' In: ''Berichte des Vereins „Natur und Heimat“ und des Naturhistorischen Museums zu Lübeck.''  (''Protected Areas of the Baltic Sea Coast of Schleswig-Holstein.'' In: ''Reports of the Association "Nature and Homeland" and the Nature-Historical Museum to Lübeck.'') Heft (Number) 19/20, 1986, {{ISSN|0067-5806}}

[[Category:Lakes of Schleswig-Holstein]]
[[Category:Bays of Schleswig-Holstein]]
[[Category:Lübeck]]
[[Category:Nature reserves in Schleswig-Holstein]]
[[Category:Federal waterways in Germany]]
[[Category:Trave basin|BDassowerSee]]