Elbufer-Drawehn Nature Park
Encyclopedia
The Elbhöhen-Wendland Nature Park , formerly known as the Elbufer-Drawehn Nature Park (Naturpark Elbufer-Drawehn) is a German nature park
east of Lüneburg
in Lower Saxony
.
Both landscapes were formed by the ice age
. The Drawehn is an end moraine from the penultimate glaciation - a heap of rock debris pushed by the ice sheet and left behind at the end of the glacier. The Elbe valley by contrast was a meltwater
channel from the last ice age.
by UNESCO
in 1997 and overlaps with the Lower Saxon Elbe Water Meadows Biosphere Reserve (Niedersächsische Elbtalaue Biosphärenreservat). On 1 June 2006 the protected area of the nature park was increased to 115.994 hectares (286.6 acre), almost double its previous size. In Germany the mere designation of an area as a nature park
does not make it a strict nature conservation area, but is first and foremost to promote tourism.
soils supported extensive areas of heath until the 18th century. Today, following afforestation, they are covered by large pine forests. On clayey soils there are the remnants of a natural deciduous forest vegetation, especially in the Göhrde
. The better soils have been turned into arable fields.
The banks of the Elbe are under special protection as breeding, stopover and winter sites on the bird migration
routes between Siberia
and Africa
. During the summer months more than 150 species of bird breed here and white
and black stork
s, cranes
, heron
s and white-tailed eagle
s can be seen. In autumn and winter migrating cranes, ducks, geese and swans may be observed. The lower Middle Elbe depression with its rich water meadow is also of outstanding important for amphibian
s such as the European fire-bellied toad
, the European tree frog
and the moor frog
.
Nature park
A nature park is a landscape protected by means of long-term planning, use and agriculture. These valuable landscapes are preserved in their present state and promoted for touristic purposes....
east of Lüneburg
Lüneburg
Lüneburg is a town in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is located about southeast of fellow Hanseatic city Hamburg. It is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, and one of Hamburg's inner suburbs...
in Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
.
Location
The nature park lies mainly in Lüchow-Dannenberg and, after being extended in 2006, covers the majority of this rural district. It has an area of about 1160 square kilometres (447.9 sq mi) and belongs to some of the most sparsely populated areas in Germany. The park originally included two very different geographical regions from which it derived its name:- the ridge of DrawehnDrawehnThe Drawehn is a partly wooded and partly agricultural region of hills in the northeastern part of the German state of Lower Saxony, lying between the districts of Lüneburg and Uelzen in the west and Lüchow-Dannenberg in the east.- Definition :...
in western Lüchow-Dannenberg - the banks of the Elbe River (German: Elbufer) in northern Lüchow-Dannenberg and partly in Lüneburg district
Both landscapes were formed by the ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
. The Drawehn is an end moraine from the penultimate glaciation - a heap of rock debris pushed by the ice sheet and left behind at the end of the glacier. The Elbe valley by contrast was a meltwater
Meltwater
Meltwater is the water released by the melting of snow or ice, including glacial ice and ice shelfs over oceans. Meltwater is often found in the ablation zone of glaciers, where the rate of snow cover is reducing...
channel from the last ice age.
History
The park was founded in 1968. It is part of the Elbe River Landscape (Flusslandschaft Elbe), which was designated as a biosphere reserveBiosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in 1997 and overlaps with the Lower Saxon Elbe Water Meadows Biosphere Reserve (Niedersächsische Elbtalaue Biosphärenreservat). On 1 June 2006 the protected area of the nature park was increased to 115.994 hectares (286.6 acre), almost double its previous size. In Germany the mere designation of an area as a nature park
Nature park
A nature park is a landscape protected by means of long-term planning, use and agriculture. These valuable landscapes are preserved in their present state and promoted for touristic purposes....
does not make it a strict nature conservation area, but is first and foremost to promote tourism.
Flora and fauna
The vegetation of the nature park varies depending on the relief and soil composition. The higher, sandy podsolPodsol
In soil science, podzols are the typical soils of coniferous, or boreal forests. They are also the typical soils of eucalypt forests and heathlands in southern Australia...
soils supported extensive areas of heath until the 18th century. Today, following afforestation, they are covered by large pine forests. On clayey soils there are the remnants of a natural deciduous forest vegetation, especially in the Göhrde
Göhrde
Göhrde is a municipality in the district of Lüchow-Dannenberg, in Lower Saxony, Germany.The municipality was named after the Göhrde State Forest, which has an area of about , famous for its oaks, beeches and game preserves. The hunting lodge situated in the forest was built in 1689 and was restored...
. The better soils have been turned into arable fields.
The banks of the Elbe are under special protection as breeding, stopover and winter sites on the bird migration
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
routes between Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. During the summer months more than 150 species of bird breed here and white
White Stork
The White Stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average from beak tip to end of tail, with a wingspan...
and black stork
Black Stork
The Black Stork Ciconia nigra is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread, but rare, species that breeds in the warmer parts of Europe, predominantly in central and eastern regions. This is a shy and wary species, unlike the closely related White Stork. It is seen in...
s, cranes
Crane (bird)
Cranes are a family, Gruidae, of large, long-legged and long-necked birds in the order Gruiformes. There are fifteen species of crane in four genera. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back...
, heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
s and white-tailed eagle
White-tailed Eagle
The White-tailed Eagle , also known as the Sea Eagle, Erne , or White-tailed Sea-eagle, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which includes other raptors such as hawks, kites, and harriers...
s can be seen. In autumn and winter migrating cranes, ducks, geese and swans may be observed. The lower Middle Elbe depression with its rich water meadow is also of outstanding important for amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s such as the European fire-bellied toad
European Fire-bellied Toad
The European Fire-bellied Toad Bombina bombina is a fire-bellied toad native to mainland Europe. These toads are slightly toxic sometimes to humans...
, the European tree frog
European tree frog
The European tree frog is the common name of Hyla arborea. The original name of this frog was Rana arborea. Some of the other common names include:*Rainette verte *Laubfrosch *Ranita de San Antonio...
and the moor frog
Moor Frog
The Moor Frog is a slim, reddish-brown, semi-aquatic amphibian native to Europe and Asia. It is a member of the family Ranidae, or "true frogs".-Taxonomy:...
.
External links
- Elbhöhen-Wendland Nature Park at www.umwelt.niedersachsen.de.
- Elbhöhen-Wendland Nature Park at www.reiseland-niedersachsen.de.
- Elbhöhen-Wendland Nature Park at www.luechow-dannenberg.de.