In pictures: Transforming a scarred landscape Published duration 25 November 2016

image copyright Freya Najade

How do you repair a landscape ravaged by years of mining? The people of Lusatia, an area on the eastern side of Germany scarred by years of lignite mining, have come up with a novel plan.

After the reunification of Germany, 12 out of the 17 mines shut down, leaving huge open pits across the landscape.

Since then, however, then has been a programme to flood these quarries, turning Lusatia into Europe's largest artificial lake district.

Over the past three summers, photographer Freya Najade has documented this process of transformation.

image copyright Freya Najade image caption Holidaymaker Max is visiting the Lusatian Lake District for the second time in two years

Her images capture cheery holidaymakers on their way to swim in the lakes.

However, the past is never far away - billowing cooling towers sit behind newly built parks, and ice cream stalls nestle among colossal mining equipment.

image copyright Freya Najade image caption More than 6,000 boulders recovered from the local mining industry are arranged in Nochten Boulder Park, the site of a former opencast mine, in front of a backdrop of Boxberg power station

And the burgeoning tourist trade respects this history, with one photograph showing a guided coach tour exploring the industrial areas.

With more than 20 lakes already built, Najade's photographs capture a Lusatia suspended between its past and its future states.

image copyright Freya Najade image caption The Nochten opencast mine is one of those still in operation and continues to grow at a rate of 2m (7ft) per day. As a result, four villages are under threat of destruction, meaning about 1,700 villagers may have to be re-housed

image copyright Freya Najade image caption Hermann, on his way to Partwitzer See for a swim, visits the district with his wife and granddaughter three to four times a year

image copyright Freya Najade image caption Bathers swim at Sedlitzer See, despite the fact it is still at the flooding stage of development

image copyright Freya Najade image caption Cyril stands on the shore of Barwalder See, where he has come with his family to swim and cycle

image copyright Freya Najade image caption Guided coach tours such as these show off the old industrial sites to newly arrived tourists

image copyright Freya Najade image caption Roses bloom next to Senftenberger See's beach hotel