TheZarow is a lowland river inWestern Pomerania in the east of the state ofMecklenburg-Vorpommern inGermany.

Zarow
Mouth of the Zarow
River system of the Zarow (blue-green) east adjacent to that of the Peene; between the two Anklam mill ditches (gray)
Location
Location	Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,Germany
Reference no.	DE: 9694
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Confluence of 2 major ditches atFerdinandshof
• coordinates	53°40′07″N13°52′13″E / 53.6686°N 13.8704°E /53.6686; 13.8704
• elevation	6 m
Mouth
• location	Stettin Lagoon atGrambin
• coordinates	53°45′27″N14°01′53″E / 53.7575°N 14.0314°E /53.7575; 14.0314
Length	16 km
Basin features
Progression	Stettin Lagoon
River system	Zarow

The lower course of the river, also known topographically as Zarow, is formed from two ditches, theLandgraben and the Weißer Graben (White Ditch) coming from theGalenbecker See. Since its upper course, which flows into Lake Galenbecke, begins with theZarowbach, near a hill called the Zarowberg, it can be assumed that the name 'Zarow' was originally associated with this watercourse. Hydrographically, however, the Landgraben is considered the (main) upper reaches of the Zarow, since it has a significantly largercatchment area with the northern part of theDatze (the southern part of which flows into the Tollense inNeubrandenburg).

TheFriedländer Große Wiese area, which is traversed by numerous ditches, is drainedinter alia by the Zarow. For this purpose, the water is raised from several lowerpolder ditches usingpumping stationss in Landgraben and Zarow.

At the junction of two main ditches atFerdinandshof, the river begins its approximately 16 km long journey north through theUeckermünde Heath.

Around 1730, moorland settlements were laid out along the shore. The settlement of Zarowmühl is located nearUeckermünde. Towards the end of the 19th century, timber wasrafted on the Zarow. Today the river is heavily overgrown with weeds in summer. In recent years, two weirs near Meiersberg and Zarowmühl have been demolished and environmentally friendly fish ladders have been erected. Nevertheless, due to heavy nutrient input, intensive agricultural use of the surrounding fields and meadows and other circumstances, the fish repeatedly die off.

In Grambin there are jetties that are used as a harbour for yachtsmen on the lagoon. The Zarow flows west of theUecker, near Grambin, into theStettiner Haff.

The course of the Zarow is considered to be the old cultural border between Western and Central Pomerania, which can be seen in the language as well as manners and customs. This is why west of the Zarow one eatsHeißwecken (a type of currant bun), east of itFastenbrezeln (a type of pretzel).^[1]