The 250-mile long Spree River runs through the heart of Berlin (as well as through Saxony and Brandenburg and on into the Czech Republic), right past Museum Island, which is one of Berlin’s most popular tourist destinations. Developers say that turning the Berlin portion of the river—a stretch equivalent to seventeen Olympic-sized pools—into a public swimming venue, called Flussbad (or “river bath”), would enhance and encourage inner-city living and provide a “badly needed recreational facility in this part of the city.” Access to the water would be through transforming an existing quay into wide stairs, which would also double as a resting place for those patrons who wish to sunbathe or soak, but not swim. A natural filtration system is already in place for Flussbad via a dense reed bed.
[quote] With a length of over 700 meters, Flussbad would not only be the world’s longest swimming pool but also would surely become an urban magnet for both tourists and Berliners.” [/quote]
