Birkhede Camping

Denmark Lake 1 - Excellent

Birkhede Camping Strand is a private beach on the north shore of Knudsø lake near Ry in central Denmark, accessible only to campground guests. The sandy beach is approximately 30 metres long with grass extending to the water's edge and a 25-metre-wide recreational area behind it featuring grass and scattered trees. The bathing area near the jetty is shallow with sand and stone bottom, unsuitable for diving. The beach has been classified as "Excellent", the highest classification possible.

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Water

Knudsø is a lake in the Gudenå river system with a catchment area of 191 hectares, 2.6 kilometres long and 0.4 to 0.9 kilometres wide. Mean depth is 13.4 metres with maximum depth of 29 metres. Water temperature in summer ranges from 14 to 22 degrees Celsius. Visibility depth exceeds 1 metre during bathing season. The lake is categorised as type 10: calcareous, non-humic, freshwater, deep.

Location

Located on the north side of Knudsø at Sønder Egevej in Ry, central Jutland. The beach is private and accessible only to Birkhede Camping guests. Managed by Skanderborg Kommune, Knudsvej 34, 8680 Ry.

Facilities

Bathing jetty, boat moorings, toilet facilities on the campground, tables and benches, lifeguard post, bonfire area, water trampoline, waste bins, information board.

Season

Bathing season monitoring occurs from April to October.

Water Quality

Water quality classified as "Excellent" based on analysis results from 2006–2009. Over 95% of bathing water samples from 2006–2009 recorded E. coli values below 500 and enterococci below 200, indicating no significant faecal contamination from overflow events or dispersed settlements.

Risks

High risk of cyanobacteria bloom. Annual blue-green algae blooms occur in Knudsø with varying intensity from limited to severe. Blooms are most likely after rainy periods followed by warm, calm, sunny conditions and typically occur in late summer. Toxic cyanobacteria species Anabaena lemmermannii/flos-aquae cause the blooms and produce hepatotoxins and neurotoxins. Contact with toxins can cause diarrhoea, headache, skin irritation, fever, and nausea. Zebra mussels (invasive species) were first recorded in Knudsø in 2006 and have subsequently spread throughout the system.