Leipzig (dpa / sn) - Whether thread algae or thousand leaf: The aquatic plants in Leipzig's Karl Heine Canal have been mowed since Monday. Two mowing boats started the morning in the waters at Lindenauer Hafen in the west of the city with the big cleaning operation, as announced by the municipal department for water development. "The strong growth of plants and algae, favored by the warm weather and the corresponding water temperatures, makes the herbs necessary," said Leipzig's environmental mayor Heiko Rosenthal last week.
The aquatic plants are mowed over a width of five meters about 1.6 meters below the water surface. The clippings are transported to the shore with a transport raft. The biomass can drip off and any remaining aquatic insects have the chance to get back into the water. The material is collected at central transhipment points and then recycled.
The work between the Nonnenbrücke and the Lindenau harbor should last until August 16th. Until then, the boats are regularly in use during the day. The Karl Heine Canal is around 3.3 kilometers long and connects the Lindenau harbor with the Weißen Elster.
