As of: March 26, 2024, 7:17 a.m
By: Marcel Prigge
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The ocean bridge in Harpstedt in Lower Saxony leads to Little America.
The 99-year-old connection was founded as an inn and is now popular with hikers and cyclists.
Harpstedt – There are some strange places in Lower Saxony.
For example, the state is home to the narrowest car bridge in Europe.
There are also curious place names to discover here.
“America” and “Russia”, which are surprisingly close to each other, are already known.
But very few people know that there is a 99-year-old bridge that leads across an “ocean” to a different America.
The 99-year-old ocean bridge: On foot across the boggy Delmetal to Little America
Of course, this does not mean the United States and “ocean” does not mean the “Great Pond”, i.e. the Atlantic.
Rather, the historic building is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge located in the Wildeshauser Geest in Lower Saxony.
The “Ocean Bridge” is the only way to cross the Delmetal between the Harpstedt Forest and the Harpstedt district of Klein Amerika.
Or, as it says on the nature park's website: The "wooden bridge connects the town of Little America with the rest of the world".
Provides pedestrians and cyclists with a safe crossing: the ocean bridge near Harpstedt leads over the Delmetal to Klein Amerika.
© Marcel Prigge
This connection has existed for 99 years.
In 1925 a footbridge was built over the Delmetal.
Heinrich Plate, an innkeeper at the former “America” inn in Klein Amerika, came up with the idea.
The structure then got the name “Ocean Bridge” – guess what?
– because it went over the boggy, swampy valley to America.
Historical name: “America” restaurant and ocean bridge are closely linked
Klein Amerika emerged as the settlement of an emigrant who also opened the inn.
According to local tour guide Heinrich Sudmann, a farmer's son emigrated to America between 1880 and 1890.
There he made money, got married and returned.
Eventually he opened the inn, which became popular and well-known relatively quickly.
The original footbridge, which was the former ocean bridge, was renovated in 1967 with the help of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief.
After another renovation in 1982 and another 20 years, the structure fell into disrepair.
The bridge had to be closed for safety reasons.
In 2006 the ocean bridge was renewed again, and since then rotten planks have been replaced with new ones every now and then.
Hiking and cycling highlight: Today's ocean bridge is extremely popular
The current ocean bridge is made of wood, 175 meters long and 1.5 meters wide.
Since cyclists are expected from both sides and the bridge should be accessible to disabled people, alternative bays were installed in two places.
A shelter with benches and a table has also been added.
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Today, the Ocean Bridge is a popular stop for hikers and cyclists.
The route is part of the approximately 310 kilometer long Bremen – Osnabrück bridge cycle path.
Before that, those keen to travel pass the Murder Bridge in Bassum, which is named after a crime from 200 years ago.