Background

This website is for individuals passionate and curious about the world they live in. The intent of this project is to map the European Continental Divide at a detailed, topographical level, especially for outdoor enthusiasts who would like to hike along the continental divide throughout Europe.

History of the project

Inspiration

I’m an American transplant living in Berlin. In the US, the Continental Divide is a well known part of the public imagination with the Continental Divide Trail well marked throughout North America. I once hiked several days deep in the Montana wilderness of the Rocky Mountains to the Chinese Wall, a dramatic rock formation along the divide, with a high craggy face. This was a convincing display: no question that rain water on one side of the wall would wind up in the Gulf of Mexico and on the other side would wind up in the Pacific.

As with any obsession, it all begins with a simple question rooted in a natural curiosity. With the image of the Chinese Wall in my mind, I asked the seemingly simple question ‘I wonder where the continental divide is in Europe?’. 

First Attempts to find the European Continental Divide

Like anyone, I started with the Wikipedia article on the European Watershed. I was surprised and fascinated to find out that the continental divide between the Baltic and North Seas actually runs through eastern Brandenburg, only about 30 km outside of Berlin. However, Brandenburg is not exactly known for a mountainous region that might split the continent in two, but rather it is a huge expanse of relatively flat woods and lakes.  

My wife and I have quite some experience walking in Brandenburg, the best option for experiencing greenery and the outdoors while living in Berlin. I thought to myself, if the continental divide runs close to my home, I’m going to find it and I’m going to hike it, too.

After coming up short during a thorough search on the internet for detailed maps that would be useful for hiking along the continental divide, I visited my local map store. Naively, I explained my interest to hike along the continental divide near Berlin. The salesperson laughed and said, ‘I’ve worked here twenty years and you are the very first person to ask that question.’ Hmm, this might be more difficult than I thought. 

However, she did get me started by giving me the idea to get in touch with the agencies that are responsible for water management in the region. It turned out to be the right tip. After a lot of work learning a whole new world of mapping technology and watershed data, (all explained in the Methodology section) the result is a detailed topographical map of the European Continental Divide. 

Hiking on the European Continental Divide

I’m happy to report that I‘ve now hiked along various parts of the continental divide in Brandenburg. I had secretly hoped that there was a mountainous ridgeline that I had never noticed before, but, alas, the landscape remains relatively flat.

My most memorable discovery along the European continental divide is the Stobber River in the Rotes Luch near Buckow. The landscape here is so flat, that the river flows in two directions without branching. The most likely reason for this phenomenon is that the source of the river is directly on the divide. I had read about this point before visiting and did not quite believe it. I thought maybe it would be a swampy patch over a long area. But no, from the actual divide, walking a few meters in one direction, you can see water flowing to the left and a few meters in the other direction, you can see water flowing to the right. It’s not quite the Chinese Wall, but I would argue it’s pretty convincing nonetheless, with a more subtle charm. I tried to get a good photo or video, but I think it’s just one of those things that you have to see to believe.

Meaning of Divides

I’ve been thinking about continental divides for a while now and I’ve come to appreciate their symbolic meaning. I prefer not to think about divides as what bring us apart: such as political and societal chasms, but rather as the natural transitions which form the human experience. In human existence, a divide separates two phases of a life, marking a time before and a time after. Some transitions are like the Chinese Wall or the Sextener Rotwand, dramatic and demanding attention, requiring immense effort to overcome: being born, suffering a body-altering accident, or finally earning a college degree. Others, however, are more like the Stobber River, taking their time and subtly emerging: changing from a teenager to an adult, learning to speak a language, or knowing when a relationship is finally over. Only after crossing the divide, finally looking around, do you notice that the water is actually flowing in a different direction.    

There are many places to discover through this strange obsession, all giving much joy, excitement and wonder about our world. The work is now here for anyone to use. 

I hope you enjoy it!

-Menasheh