The second, a nature diorama, scoops up a 5-metre stretch of Rhine riverbank and transports it into the museum, replete with animals and plants.The natural diversity in and around water can also be studied in aquariums, photographs, and models. Between them all, the exhibition contains numerous objects that visualize Wiesbaden’s relationship with water and offer us a glimpse of future water management. What developments lie ahead and how can we influence them?

The exhibition features two juxtaposed presentations, one on water use and one on aquatic habitats. The first is a scale model of the town centre showing not only the bubbling thermal springs, but also the canal network and streams that flow under the city that are otherwise hidden from view. 

Children can explore the exhibition by following in the footsteps of Ekko the giant, a local figure of legend. Ekko guides them to many hands-on learning stations, where, for example, they can use microscopes to spot the tiniest aquatic creatures, follow the course of water through the city by shooting marbles down a track, or explore Wiesbaden’s streams on a touchscreen.

Wiesbaden is a city of water. Every day, two million liters of thermal water gush into the city from 27 springs. In the city area, 55 streams flow in the direction of the major rivers. With the Rhine, 2300 cubic meters of water flow past Wiesbaden every second. The city's history is based on the thermal springs, industries settled along the Rhine and the growing population constantly poses new challenges to the drinking water supply and wastewater disposal.