The Mecklenburg Lake District[1] (German: Mecklenburgische Seenplatte) is the largest coherent lakes and canals area in Germany. It is situated in southern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, extending somewhat into the north of Brandenburg, and sometimes called "the land of the thousand lakes".
The Seenplatte includes Müritz National Park, which contains Germany's second-largest lake as well as the wildlife reserves Feldberger Seenlandschaft, Mecklenburgische Schweiz and Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heide.[2]
Like the Pomeranian and Masurian lake plateaux, the Mecklenburg Lake District was formed during the ice age. The many lakes are remnants of the receding ice from about 12,000 years ago.
The area around the Mecklenburg Lake District is flat, sparsely populated and mainly covered by forests, lakes and moors. The lakes themselves are popular for boating and fishing. They are natural habitat for numerous plants and animals, including endangered species.
For a few years the area was a member of the European Geoparks Network and the Global Network of National Geoparks but as at 2011 it no longer possesses that status.