Binnenalster () or Inner Alster Lake is one of two
artificial lake
A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation.
Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contr ...
s within the city limits of
Hamburg
Hamburg (, ; nds, label=Hamburg German, Low Saxon, Hamborg ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (german: Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg; nds, label=Low Saxon, Friee un Hansestadt Hamborg),. is the List of cities in Germany by popul ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
, which are formed by the river
Alster
The Alster () is a right tributary of the Elbe river in Northern Germany. It has its source near Henstedt-Ulzburg, Schleswig-Holstein, flows somewhat southwards through much of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and joins the Elbe in central ...
(the other being the
Außenalster). The main annual festival is the ''Alstervergnügen''.
The lake has an area of .
[Source: statistical office of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein (2006)]
Overview
History
The phrase "inner" refers to the old city walls of Hamburg. The Binnenalster was the part of the lake that was "inside" the city walls. The lake was originally created to serve as a
reservoir
A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation.
Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contr ...
for a mill. As of 2008 the old city walls do not exist, instead two car and train bridges, the
Lombardsbrücke and the
Kennedybrücke, span the river.
Location
The Binnenalster is bordered by embankment streets on three sides, only the northern side is bordered by a park.
Jungfernstieg – on the southern side, opposite this park is a busy boulevard and center of the Binnenalster. Left and right, Ballindamm and Neuer Jungfernstieg accommodate a number of corporate headquarters and first class hotels.
Public events
Alstervergnügen
The ''Alstervergnügen'' ( en, Alster enjoyment) is an annual street fair held around the lake. It always takes place throughout the first weekend of September, and offers a wide variety of food, drink, vending and games stands, as well as some rock bands.
See also
*
List of lakes in Schleswig-Holstein
*
List of lakes in Germany
Notes
References
*
External links
Photos of Binnenalsteron bilderbuch-hamburg.de
Photos of Binnenalsteron bilder-hamburg.info
Alstervergnügen Hamburg
Lakes of Hamburg
Tourist attractions in Hamburg
{{hamburg-geo-stub
de:Alster#Binnenalster