Depending on who you want to believe (and we're certainly not going to measure it) Hanover's fabulous Maschsee covers an area of either 68 or 78 hectares and was dug out between 1934 and 1936 (history doesn't record by whom) to give the landlocked folk of Hanover a place to splash and have a paddle. Surrounding by some wonderful parkland and forest, as well as the aforementioned wet bit the Maschsee also includes several bars, restaurants, beer gardens and a large stage for outdoor concerts.