The Zwarte Meer (Black Lake) is located on the shores of a lake in the Netherlands on the border of the provinces of Flevoland and Overijssel that separates from the Ketelmeer at the Bellows Ramspol dam. The lake was formed in 1956 during the construction of the Flevopolder. It is shallow. Apart from the channels used for navigation, the depth is only one to two metres. There are some reed beds along the shoreline and around Bird Island. The area of the lake is 17 km².
Origin
The Zwarte Meer was formed in the 1940s when the Noordoostpolder was built to the west of it. The lake has an area of 1700 hectares. It belongs to the Randmeren Noord in the IJsselmeer catchment area (the other two lakes are Ketelmeer and Vossemeer). The Zwarte Meer is surrounded by four municipalities in a clockwise direction: Noordoostpolder (province of Flevoland), Steenwijkerland, Zwartewaterland and Kampen (these three areas are in the province of Overijssel).
Its outflow runs into the Ketelmeer in a westerly direction via Ramsgeul at Ramspol weir, into the Kadoelermeer in a north-easterly direction, and into the Zwarte Water in a south-easterly direction via Zwolse Diep. The lake is relatively shallow and has this as one of its defining characteristics.Apart from the fairways used by shipping, the lake is no deeper than one to two metres. It is mostly open water. Along the shoreline and around the Vogeleiland there are extensive reed beds.
Natural sights of the Zwarte Meer
Part of the Zwarte Meer (283 ha) is managed by Vereniging Natuurmonumenten, mainly the coastal zone. In order to protect the rare chiffchaff flora, Natuurmonumenten mows and grazes the floodplain vegetation. The following nesting birds are found in the reedbeds: waders, waders, great reed warblers and purple herons. A part of the reeds is mowed annually on behalf of Natuurmonumenten. In this way, the reed retains its strength so that the birds can use it to build their nests.
