With our ever-advancing technology , snail mail post may soon be a thing of the past altogether . But for the residents of a small community in eastern Germany , receiving post by boat is just a part of everyday life . Inhabited by just 150 people , for centuries the village of Lehde was only accessible by boat . And for 118 years German mail service , Deutsche Post , has delivered post here by water , at least between the months of March and October . Mail carrier Andrea Bunar rides along a stream in her yellow mail boat at the start of the delivery season in Lehde , Germany . Post service employee Andrea Bunar 's route takes her along a canal system , located about 60 miles south of Berlin . In addition to being an environmentally-friendly method , it is rather easy for mail carrier Andrea Bunar , who gets a workout as she paddles up and down the canals . She delivers everything from letters to large parcels on a yellow post barge that measures nine metres in length . She uses her own strength to propel the boat along the narrow channels to more than 60 addresses each day . She covers about five miles every day and has been delivering the post by boat for almost five years . The picturesque village is set in Germany 's Spreewald landscape , which is irrigated with 200 small canals . Lehde is known as the 'city of punts and pickles ' , with life revolving around punting and the famous 'Spreewaldgurken ' pickles . The village is accessible by car but its residents argue that to see its true charm , you should arrive and travel around by boat . The Spreewald landscape is irrigated with more than 200 small canals and is an official Unesco biosphere reserve . Lehde , also called Lubbenau , is known as the 'city of punts and pickles ' , with life revolving around punting and the famous 'Spreewaldgurken ' pickles which were invented here . Popular with nature lovers , visitors can glide through the peaceful waters where village ferrymen offer special punting tour experiences , including a nostalgia tour , an adventure tour , fishing expeditions and nature observation tours in small groups . The preserved historic houses the Spreewald are completely under monument protection , making the area a popular tourist destination . Tourists cruise sit in a boat near the Spreewald village of Lehde , also known as Lubbenau , about 60 miles south of Germany 's capital . The preserved historic houses the Spreewald are completely under monument protection , making the area a popular destination for tourists . From the Lubbenauer Grand Harbour , visitors can be transported via traditional Spreewald punt Lehde in just over an hour . Nowadays , the village is available by car , foot and bicycle , but its residents argue that to see its true charm , you should arrive by boat . As well as a historic town centre complete with thatched houses , romantic alleyways , galleries and tiny shops , Lehde boast a Spreewald-Museum , presenting the town life from 100 years ago , a castle district and ice-skating in winter .
For centuries the tiny village of Lehde , in eastern Germany , was only accessible by boat . While snail mail is dying off , residents of today have enjoyed having mail delivered by boat for many years . The village is unique in Germany 's natural environment , which is dotted with 200 small canals .