List of nature parks in Germany

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Map displaying the nature parks in Germany Karte Naturparks Deutschland high.png
Map displaying the nature parks in Germany

Nature parks in Germany (German : Naturparks) have been established under section 22, paragraph 4 of that country's Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG). As of 2020 there were 103 nature parks, comprising about 27 percent of the total land area of Germany and are brought together under the Association of German Nature Parks. [1] In total there are 23,159 Protected Areas in Germany. [2]

Contents

Parks that overlap into neighbouring countries are led by Europarc. [3]

The oldest nature park is Lüneburg Heath Nature Park, whose core area was established in 1921 as a nature reserve; by 2007, it had expanded to more than four times its original area. [4] As of 2020 the largest nature reserve in Germany, with 3,940 square kilometres (1,520 sq mi), is the Southern Black Forest Nature Park. [5]

The surface area of nature parks in Germany increased by 42% between 1998 and the end of 2019 (this corresponds to around 3.0 million hectares). [6]

The 16 national parks of Germany, under paragraph 24 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act, are not listed here. See List of national parks of Germany.

Nature parks

NameState
Year
Area (km²)
SummaryImage
Altmühl Valley Nature Park Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 19692962The park is characterized by gently undulating plateaus and steep valleys with precipitous cliffs, and half of the park is wooded. The Altmühl flows through a spectacular valley from west to east. Panorama altmuehltal6.jpg
Arnsberg Forest Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia 1961482The park includes the Arnsberg Forest in the west and the Warstein Forest in the east. It is an area of low, forested mountains with several ridges. It is bordered by the Möhne in the north and the valley cut by the Ruhr in the south. Panorama Ginsterkopf.jpg
Augsburg-Western Woods Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 19741175This park is bordered by the Danube, Wertach, Schmutter, Flossach and Mindel. The biggest part of the nature park is located in Augsburg (district) and extends to the edge of the districts Unterallgäu, Günzburg (district) and Dillingen (district). The gentle, hilly landscape of streams is fragmented by the gravel left behind by ice age Alpine glaciers and is nearly half forested. Kloster Oberschoenenfeld Schwaben Ansicht West.jpg
Aukrug Flag of Schleswig-Holstein.svg  Schleswig-Holstein 1970384The park includes a flat and loamy ground moraine landscape with low hills and forests. In the south, the landscape is shaped by the river Stör, with moraines, heath, forest, and numerous ponds. Boxberg im Winter.jpg
Barnim Flag of Brandenburg.svg  Brandenburg
Flag of Berlin.svg  Berlin
1999749The park includes the Barnim heath habitats dating back to the ice age. It lies between the glacial valleys of Eberswalde in the north and Berlin in the south, and is more than half forested. The region is shaped by many individual lakes and meltwater gullies. Briesetal bei Briese.JPG
Bavarian Rhön Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 19671245The park includes the area of the Rhön Mountains and lies amongst many low mountain ranges. In the south it extends to the Franconian Saale, and in its treeless Long Rhön shares a part of the central region of the High Rhön. The gently undulating surface is partially offset by basalt hills. Rhoen Fraenkische Saale mg-k.jpg
Bavarian Spessart Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 19631710The park is underlain by Buntsandstein, gently inclined to the south. It includes the largest contiguous broadleaf/mixed forest in Germany, and is characterized by deep valleys, gentle slopes and heights. Horst (Spessart).JPG
Bavarian Forest Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 19673008The park lies between the Danube and the heights of the Bavarian Forest. The park, nearly half forested, includes the peaks of the mountains as well as the southwestern slope, and is crossed by deep valleys and bordered by the Bavarian Forest National Park. Naturpark Bayerischer Wald bei Ruhmannsfelden 2.jpg
Bergisches Land Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia 19731917The park includes the northern part of the Rhenish Massif and the northern Siegerland and is a typical forested low mountain range. It rises gradually from west to east, and includes a densely populated valley. Typisch-bergisch.jpg
Bergstraße-Odenwald Nature Park Flag of Hesse.svg  Hesse
Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria
Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg  Baden-Württemberg
19603500The park includes the wooded low mountains of the Odenwald and extends east to the Maintal. It is bordered by the rivers Rhine, Main and Neckar. The region has stone runs formed by huge granite blocks (Felsenmeer) and bizarre rock formations. Kirche Gadernheim.jpg
Central/North Black Forest Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg  Baden-Württemberg 20003750 [7] The park is characterized by a varied landscape typical of the Black Forest with deeply incised valleys, rocks, streams and large, contiguous forested area. The crests themselves are treeless. In the south, the Central/North Black Forest Nature Park blends into the Southern Black Forest Nature Park. St. Roman 001.jpg
Bourtanger Moor-Bargerveen Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
2006140The park includes the Bourtanger Moor, the largest contiguous raised bog in Europe. It has a variegated landscape and is characterized by heath regions, farming land, expanses of water and peat digs. Bargerveen.jpg
Dahme-Heideseen Flag of Brandenburg.svg  Brandenburg 1998594The park is characterized by the lake-dominated landscape of the river Dahme and numerous streams. The region is littered with sandy valley plains, moors, distinctive terminal moraines and wind-generated inland dunes. Heideseen-Schiebingsee-01.jpg
Diemelsee Flag of Hesse.svg  Hesse
Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia
1965334The park is part of the Rothaar Mountains and is characterized by large, contiguous areas of forest. In the southeast and east it is bounded by the Waldecker Plain, in the north and northwest by the high plain of Paderborn and the Arnsberger Wald. Diemelsee (Stausee).JPG
Drömling Flag of Saxony-Anhalt (state).svg  Saxony-Anhalt 1990278The park is a marsh, which previously comprised mainly wetlands. The landscape today is characterized by drainage and cultivation carried out in the 18th century and includes vast grasslands and dense forestry as well as a dense system of ditches. Droemling Vorsfelde.jpg
Düben Heath Flag of Saxony.svg  Saxony
Flag of Saxony-Anhalt (state).svg  Saxony-Anhalt
1992788The park includes the greater part of the Düben Heath (Dübener Heide) with about two thirds of it forested. The landscape is characterized by a varied hilly heath formed in the ice age. It lies between the riverbeds of Elbe and Mulde. Dubener Heide beeches2.JPG
Dümmer Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony
Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia
1972472The park includes the Dammer Berge, the Dümmer, the Stemweder Berg and numerous moors. The high ground in the area is crisscrossed by shallow dips created by the glaciers of the Saalian Stage and the moraines they left behind. Dummer veladoklubejo.jpg
Ebbegebirge Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia 1964777This nature park lies within the diverse Ebbegebirge, with two thirds of it covered by forest. It contains several dams such as the Biggertalsperre and numerous rivers such as the Lenne. Sauerland.jpg
Eichsfeld-Hainich-Werratal Flag of Thuringia.svg  Thuringia 1990870The park is characterized by the hills of the Hainich and the plateaus of the Eichsfeld. The river Werra has shaped and cut deeply into the area in the southwest of the landscape. Werraschleife.jpg
Elbhöhen-Wendland Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony 1968750The park includes two rather different major landscapes, the forested Drawehn ridge and the banks of the river Elbe. It is characterized by a varied relief with numerous slopes and valley on the Drawehn and the wide glacial valley of the Elbe (the Elbe-Urstromtal). HoherMechtinS-View.jpg
Elm-Lappwald Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony 1976470The park includes the northern portion of the mid-German Harz mountains and the forested ridges of the Lappwald, Dorm and Elm, as well as the Helmstedter Mulde in the east. It is characterized by undulating hills. The chalk deposits of the local mountains are rich in fossils. Elm.jpg
Feldberg Lake District Flag of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.svg  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1997345The park is some 38 percent forested and dominated by hills, valleys and sandy plains. The western part of the region formed in the ice age, with ground moraines, terminal moraines, sandurs, and glacial valleys, belongs to Müritz National Park. Lake de Feldberg Breiter Luzinsee.JPG
Fichtel Mountains Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 19711028The park includes the wooded highlands of the Fichtel Mountains and the adjacent agricultural lands of the plateaux. It is bounded by the Thuringian Forest, Franconian Forest, Upper Palatine Forest and the Ore Mountains. The region is characterized by extensive rock formations and pillars such as the Luisenburg Rock Labyrinth. Fichtelgebirge - Ochsenkopf u. Fichtelberg.jpg
Fläming Flag of Saxony-Anhalt (state).svg  Saxony-Anhalt 2005824The park includes the region between the Elbe and, in the north, the neighbouring High Fläming Nature Park. The gentle hills of the southern Fläming gradually lower themselves towards the city of Wittenberg. Deetz lake1.JPG
Franconian Heights (Frankenhöhe)Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 19741105This nature park is part of the cuesta in the southwest of Germany and descends steeply towards both west and east towards the Hohenlohe Plain and the Tauberland, respectively. To the southeast and the Central Franconian Basin the descent is more gentle. Virnsberg 20080620 0046b.jpg
Franconian Forest Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 19711022The park is immediately adjacent to the Thuringian Forest and the Thuringian Slate Mountains-Upper Saale Nature Parks. It consists of an undulating plateau, overlooked by individual mountain tops with more than half its area forested. Reitzenstein-Frankenwald.jpg
Franconian Switzerland-Veldenstein Forest Nature Park Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 19682346The park includes varied valleys and plateaus of the Franconian Jura, with some bizarrely shaped rock formations. Erosion has created numerous caves in the area. In the central area lies Franconian Switzerland. Kirschblute Frankische Schweiz SK 0001.jpg
German-Luxembourg Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg  Rhineland-Palatinate
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg
1958432The park includes the western side of the South Eifel. It is characterized by a hilly, gently rolling landscape with deeply incised valleys and craggy rocks. The park is part of the international German-Luxembourg Nature Park. Wallendorf 097.jpg
Habichtswald Flag of Hesse.svg  Hesse 1962474The park includes the Habichtswald, a forested low mountain range, which is located in the northern part of the extensive West Hesse Highlands. To the south and southwest, the landscape gradually descends into the valley of the river Eder. Firnskuppe Doernberg f Jungfernkopf f e.jpg
Harz Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony
Flag of Saxony-Anhalt (state).svg  Saxony-Anhalt
19602335The park includes the Harz mountains, except for some of the highest portions, which belong to Harz National Park. It is characterized by densely forested areas and short, steep valleys which alternate with mountain ridges and solitary mountains. Nationalpark-harz.jpg
Haßberge Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 1974804The park is characterized by the hilly landscape of the Haßberge. The long ridge slopes steeply towards the west but more gently towards the east due to the makeup of the geological rock layers. In the south, it is bordered by the valley of the river Main. Bettenburg Hassberge Aussenansicht 1.jpg
Hessian Rhön Flag of Hesse.svg  Hesse 1963700The park includes the northwestern Rhön as well as parts of its foreland. The border with the Bavarian Rhön Nature Park runs through the high, elongated plain. The landscape of low mountains is characterized by wooded summits and high areas free of forest. Wippershain rhoen.jpg
Hessian Spessart Flag of Hesse.svg  Hesse 1962729The park is characterized by oak and beech forests, deep valleys, gentle slopes, and the Spessart, which continues into Bavaria in the south. In the north it borders the Kinzig. Neurod - Blick auf Spessart.jpg
Hirschwald Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 2006278The park was once the hunting ground of a prince-elector and is the smallest nature park in Bavaria. It is one of the oldest and largest forested areas in the entire region. It is characterized by riparian forests and steep slopes towards Vils and the river Lauterach. Amberg Altstadt.jpg
Hohe Mark Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia 19641040The park includes the wooded ridges of the Haltern Hills - the Hohe Mark (together with its western foothills the Rekener Berge and Die Berge), Haard and Borkenberge - with their gentle summits and which are located in the southern Münsterland. The region is characterised by a varied and changing landscape. It is bordered by the Haard and the Borkenberge hills. Suentelbuche Hohe Mark01.jpg
High Fläming Flag of Brandenburg.svg  Brandenburg 1997827The park includes two different regions: in the north the flat lowlands of the Belziger Landschaftswiesen and in the south the hilly and wooded landscape of the High Fläming. The region is characterized by large, contiguous forest areas and a network of springs and burns. Flaeming impression1.JPG
High Vogelsberg Flag of Hesse.svg  Hesse 1958384The park includes the central range of the Vogelsberg, a former shield volcano complex with the largest basalt mass in Europe. It is characterized by broadleaf/mixed forest, some 34%, as well as grasslands and wetlands. Vogelsberg von Amoeneburg.jpg
Hohes Venn – Eifel Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg  Rhineland-Palatinate
Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
19601751The park includes the Eifel with the High Eifel and the High Fens. The southern High Eifel is characterized by forested ridges which are intersected by the rivers Prüm and Kyll. The foreland of the Fens has gentle hills. Hautes-Fagnes.jpg
Holstein Switzerland Flag of Schleswig-Holstein.svg  Schleswig-Holstein 1986753The park includes a multitude of lakes, such as the Lake of Plön, which were created during the last ice age and lie within the Schleswig-Holstein Uplands, crisscrossed by the rivers Schwentine and Kossau. SchwentineBeiKielGermany.jpg
Homert Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia 1965550The park lies between valley of the Ruhr in the northeast and the valley of the Lenne in the southwest. This varied, forested region is characterized by hills and ridges, river valleys, bizarre cliff and rock formations. Sundern-Sorpesee2-Asio.JPG
Hütten Hills Flag of Schleswig-Holstein.svg  Schleswig-Holstein 1970219The park includes the Hütten Hills, the northernmost hill country in Germany, and is largely part of the Schleswig Geestland. This landscape was created by rubble left behind by the glaciers during the last ice age. 
Kellerwald-Edersee Flag of Hesse.svg  Hesse 2001406The park is characterized by a low mountain range as well as gentle valleys and hills. It includes part of the Kellerwald and stretches to the Edersee. It is dissected by the Eder river. The Naturpark comprises one of the largest protected beech forests in Europe. Kellerwald Bad Zwesten.jpg
Kyffhäuser Flag of Thuringia.svg  Thuringia 1990305The park is characterized by the geologically very different regions of the Kyffhäuser, the Windleite and the Hainleite. To the south the nature park borders the Goldene Aue. It is completely forested and show several cliffs reaching 100 meters. Kyffhaeuser Tilleda.jpg
Lahn-Dill Highlands Flag of Hesse.svg  Hesse 2007874The park includes the region Lahn-Dill Highlands. In the northwest the park borders the Rothaar Mountains, in the southwest it borders the Westerwald and in the south the Taunus. The park is more than half forested and partly streaked with rocky landscapes. To the northwest it is bordered by the Rothaar Mountain Nature Park. Damshaeuser Kuppen.jpg
Lauenburg Lakes Flag of Schleswig-Holstein.svg  Schleswig-Holstein 1960474The park includes the Lauenburg lakes such as the Ratzeburger See and the Schaalsee; roughly a quarter of the park is forest. It is characterized by terminal moraine heights and in the south by gently undulating sandur plains. Rz insel.jpg
Lower Lusatian Heath Flag of Brandenburg.svg  Brandenburg 1996484The park is characterized by ground moraine and terminal moraine ridges, as well as glacial valleys and sandy areas, dating from the Wolstonian Stage. In the north vast contiguous forested areas extend on sandy plateaus. WaldKraupa1.jpg
Lower Lusatian Ridge Flag of Brandenburg.svg  Brandenburg 1997586The park includes ridge of the Niederlausitzer Landrücken, a typical terminal moraine landscape from the ice age. The region is crossed by the northwesterly extending Glogau-Baruther Urstromtal, an ancient ice-parallel meltwater channel, toward which the park slopes steeply downward. Lausitz A.jpg
Lower Saale Valley Flag of Saxony-Anhalt (state).svg  Saxony-Anhalt 2005408The park includes the lower Saale valley and is characterized by ice age deposits and round hills of porphyry. The lowlands are interrupted by rocky mountain ridges with steep bluffs and slopes. Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1987-041-07A, Saaletal bei Kahla.jpg
Lüneburg Heath
(Lüneburger Heide)
Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony 19211130The park includes the Lüneburg Heath, that includes typical vast heath regions; the Wümme has its source there, and runs through the park. The hilly landscape was formed by ice age glaciers. Large areas of the region are covered by pine forest. Luneburger Heide 080.jpg
Maas-Schwalm-Nette Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
1965435The park spans the border with the Netherlands; the borderland is characterized by vast forests. The region has quite varied terrain, crossed by the eponymous rivers Schwalm and Nette and including the areas Süchtelner Höhen and Hardter Wald. Melickerven elmpt.jpg
Märkische Schweiz Flag of Brandenburg.svg  Brandenburg 1990205The park includes a varied hilly area, the Buckow Forest, and numerous lakes which were created by the glaciers of the last ice age. The region is dissected by valleys, and the nature park is divided by the Buckower Rinne, which was cut by meltwater of glaciers. Buckow Maerkische Schweiz 08-2015 img5.jpg
Mecklenburg Switzerland and Lake Kummerow Flag of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.svg  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1997673The nature park is only sparsely forested, it comprises several lakes including Lake Malchin, Lake Kummerow and Lake Teterow. The Peene river flows through the park. The region is characterized by hill chains in the centre of the park and valleys formed by glaciers of the ice age. Ostberg von Basedow.JPG
Mecklenburg Elbe Valley Flag of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.svg  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1998426The park includes the pristine river-formed landscape of the Elbe and its tributaries. The landscape is characterized by inland dune regions with specialized vegetation and the steep Elbe riverbed slopes. The region is criss-crossed by forests and heath. Dorfrepublik Rueterberg Elbe.jpg
Meißner-Kaufungen Forest Flag of Hesse.svg  Hesse 1962421The park includes parts of the Kaufunger Wald, the Söhre and of the Hoher Meißner. It is characterized by a varied hilly mountain landscape bordering the Münden Nature Park to the north, and lies between Werra and Fulda. Hoher meissner.jpg
Münden Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony 1959374The park includes the northern part of the Kaufungen Forest, the Bramwald and the Dransfeld Municipal Forest. Its southern border adjoins the Meißner-Kaufung Forest Nature Park. It is characterized by hills and plateaus and vast, contiguous forested areas. 20051028werratalbruecke.jpg
Nassau Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg  Rhineland-Palatinate 1963590The nature park lies in the Rhenish Massif and is dissected from east to west by the deeply incised, winding Lahn. Several tributary valleys steeply climb to the heights of the Westerwald. Panorama Montabaurer Hoehe Westerwald.jpg
Neckar Valley-Odenwald Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg  Baden-Württemberg 19801292The park includes the heavily forested low mountain landscape of the Odenwald, with deeply incised valleys. Bordering landscapes are the Bauland (a mostly unwooded area with good soils) in the east, the Bergstraße in the west and the deeply incised Neckar valley in the south. Neckartal.jpg
Northern Upper Palatinate Forest
(Oberpfälzer Wald)
Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 19751380The park includes the hilly low mountain landscape of the northern Upper Palatinate Forest. In the west this gives way to forests, fields, meadows, and pastures. In the east are the higher altitudes of the Bavarian Forest. Waldnaab bei Neustadt a.d. WN.jpg
Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heath Flag of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.svg  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1994365The park is at least 60 percent forested and contains nearly 60 partly infilled lakes and includes a wide flat landscape, with only a few hills rising above. The region is characterized by sandy land, which in places forms wind-formed dunes. Nossentiner Schwinzer Heide 2008.jpg
Nuthe-Nieplitz Flag of Brandenburg.svg  Brandenburg 1999623The park is characterized by the wet lowlands of the rivers Nuthe and Nieplitz and beech forests close to their natural state. The central area of the region was formed as a glacial meltwater feeder channel (Zwischenurstromtal) by a melting glacier at the end of the last glacial period. Nieplitz Zauchwitz.JPG
Ore Mountains/Vogtland Flag of Saxony.svg  Saxony 19901495The park includes the Ore Mountains and the Vogtland and forms a diversified landscape. A forested area runs along an undulating plateau in the Vogtland, which rises gently to the south. Deeply sunken valleys run across the Ore Mountains. Sturmer 2.jpg
Palatine Forest Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg  Rhineland-Palatinate 19581798With a forested area of 76 percent the park forms the largest contiguous forest in Germany. It is characterized by a varied and impressive landscape of Buntsandstein rocks found nowhere else in Germany. Teufelstisch 118.jpg
Rhine-Taunus Flag of Hesse.svg  Hesse 1968808The park includes the western part of the Taunus and extends over the Idsteiner Becken to the Rhine. It is characterized by a roughly 60 percent forested low mountain landscape, which falls away steeply toward the water gap of the Rhine Gorge. Idstein - Schloss.jpg
Rhine-Westerwald Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg  Rhineland-Palatinate 1962446The park is part of the Niederwesterwald, which in turn is part of the Rhenish Massif. The river Wied crosses the nature park in a valley that is broad in some places and gorge-like in others. Some 45 percent is forested. Rossbacher Haubchen.jpg
Rhineland [8] Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia 19781052The park is characterized by a diverse landscape and lies between the plain of the Rhine at the edge of the Cologne Bay and the Erft. The Ville mountain ridge crosses the park parallel to the Rhine. Pingsdorfer See.jpg
Rothaar Mountains Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia 19631355The park includes the Rothaar Mountains (Rothaargebirge) and is roughly 65 percent spruce and beech forest. The region ist distinguished by a diverse hilly mountain landscape between Upper Ruhr and Lahn rivers. The park is bordered to the west and northwest by Naturpark Ebbegebirge and Naturpark Homert, to the north by Naturpark Diemelsee and to the southeast by Naturpark Lahn-Dill-Bergland. LangenbergBlickWinter.jpg
Saale-Unstrut-Triasland Flag of Saxony-Anhalt (state).svg  Saxony-Anhalt 1991710The park includes part of the middle Saale valley and the lower Unstrut valley as well as the adjoining plateaus. It is characterized by gentle hills and mostly open landscape with viticulture and orchards. Rudelsburg.jpg
Saar-Hunsrück Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg  Rhineland-Palatinate
Flag of Saarland.svg  Saarland
19801938The park includes the Hunsrück, its Schwarzwälder Hochwald and the Osburger Hochwald. The region is characterized by a low mountain landscape with deeply incised valleys, forested mountain ridges, meadows and rocks. Saarschleife.jpg
Schlaube Valley Flag of Brandenburg.svg  Brandenburg 1995228The park includes in its north the heath habitat Reicherskreuzer Heide, and is characterized by ground and terminal moraines as well as thrust moraines, sandur plains and inland dunes. The region contains numerous meltwater channel systems generated in the last glacial period, notably the Schlaube, Dorche, Oelse and Demnitz. Muellrose, Muellroser See.jpg
Schönbuch Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg  Baden-Württemberg 1972156The park includes the Schönbuch and forms the largest contiguous forested area in the Stuttgart region. To the south it is confined by Ammer- and Neckar valleys. The eastern border is the Filder plateau and in the west the plain of the Gäu. SchoenbuchViewFromFalkenkopf.jpg
Swabian-Franconian Forest Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg  Baden-Württemberg 1979904The park is divided into five small regions: Welzheim Forest, Murrhardt Forest, Mainhardt Forest, Waldenburg Hills and Löwenstein Hills. The region is characterized by bizarre rock formations and steep slopes in the Keuper group. Pfedelbach-Gleichen-Damwildgehege.jpg
Siebengebirge Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia 195948The park includes the Siebengebirge and it is the only nature park in Germany that is designated in its entirety as a nature preserve. The region is characterized by a unique rocky landscape of volcanic origin, showing the results of erosion of volcanic rocks and exposure of intrusive rocks. Siebengebirge Venusberg.jpg
Solling-Vogler Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony 1966527The park includes both the low mountain ranges Solling and Vogler and the mountain ridge of the Burgberge that lies between them. On the west it borders on the Weser falley. The park is characterized by narrow crests, steep slopes, deeply incised valleys and large forested areas. Weser2.JPG
Soonwald-Nahe Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate.svg  Rhineland-Palatinate 2005736The park features a diverse landscape in a small area. It comprises the Hunsrück plateaus, the quartzite crests of the Soonwald showing deeply incised streams and the Nahe river valley. The region is characterized by extensive deciduous forests. Waldbockelheim2.jpg
Southern Black Forest Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg  Baden-Württemberg 19993940 [9] The Southern Black Forest Nature Park is Germany's biggest nature park (as of 2018). [10] Two thirds of the park is covered by forest and deeply incised by valleys of the Black Forest. In the west and south it comes close to the Rhine, in the east to the Swabian Alb - Wutach area and in the north to the Middle Black Forest. Triberger Wasserfall2.JPG
Stechlin-Ruppiner Land Flag of Brandenburg.svg  Brandenburg 2001683The park is up to 62 percent forested, and borders the Naturpark Uckermärkische Seen. The region is characterized by long chain of lakes, some of them with very clear water, a rare feature in Middle Europe. The large beech forests are ecologically important. Stechlinsee.jpg
Steigerwald Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 19711280The park is characterized by a gentle low mountain landscape, covered with beech and partly with bright oak groves. The northern border is formed by a big loop of the Main and the southern limit by the river Aisch. Steigerwald.jpg
Steinhuder Meer Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony 1974310The park includes the largest inland lake in northwestern Germany, the Steinhuder Meer, and is mostly bare of trees. The region is characterized by moorland, which takes up roughly a quarter of the park. The region was formed as a huge glacial ice-parallel meltwater channel (Urstromtal) during the Wolstonian Stage. Wilhelmstein Steinhuder Meer Eins.jpg
Steinwald Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 1970246The park includes the Steinwald and is embedded between Fichtel Mountains and Upper Palatinate Forest. It shows a multitude of different landscapes. The western portion is characterized by a landscape of basalt domes with stone runs and bizarre rock formations resembling castles. Weissenstein-3 WJP.jpg
Sternberg Lake District Flag of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.svg  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2005540The park includes the middle Warnow valley and the Sternberg lakes. The region is characterized by forested sandur plains, the glacial meltwater valleys ( Urstromtäler ) of the Warnow and Mildenitz rivers, glacial lakes and terminal moraines. Warnow durchbruchstal.jpg
Stromberg-Heuchelberg Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg  Baden-Württemberg 1980328The park includes the Stromberg hills and the Heuchelberg mountain ridge. It is characterized by a well wooded hilly landscape. Geologically, it belongs to the Keuper mountains. The north slopes are mostly forested, the south slopes are used by viticulture. Haberschlacht-panorama1.jpg
Südheide Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony 1963500The park lies in the southern Lüneburg Heath and is characterized by large forest and heath areas. The landscape dates from the ice age and is characterized by undulating to gentle hilly terrain and large contiguous forested area. HeideblueteTiefental.JPG
Stettin Lagoon Flag of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.svg  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2005537The park extends south from lagoons by the Baltic Sea to the mountains of the Brohmer Berge, and is characterized by the partly flat and partly hilly terminal moraine landscape, a coast with lagoons. It comprises vast and contiguous forests of Ueckermünder Heide. Fuchsberg.JPG
Taunus Nature Park formerly Hochtaunus Nature ParkFlag of Hesse.svg  Hesse 19621202The park includes the main range of the Taunus proper, an undulating to craggy, forested low mountain range with the river Lahn to the North. The Hochtaunus is dominated by coniferous trees, the Hintertaunus by deciduous forest. Grosser Feldberg Hintertaunus.jpg
TERRA.vita [11] Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia
Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony
19621140The park includes parts of the Teutoburg Forest, the Wiehen Hills and the Weser hills. The park is characterized by a rich and varied low mountain landscape, crossed by many valleys. Blick-zum-Wiehengebirge3.JPG
Teutoburg Forest / Egge Hills Flag of North Rhine-Westphalia.svg  North Rhine-Westphalia 19652711The park includes the mountain ranges of the southern Teutoburg Forest and Egge Hills. The landscape is characterized by a rich and varied low mountainous landscape and densely forested. Rieseneiche 1.JPG
Thuringian Highlands/
Upper Saale
Flag of Thuringia.svg  Thuringia 1990873The park is characterized by deeply incised valleys, above all the Saale, which winds through its valleys among the mountain ridges. The undulating plateaus are partly covered with dense spruce forests. Waffenrod-Klingeberg-Blessberg.jpg
Thuringian Forest Flag of Thuringia.svg  Thuringia 19902082The Nature Park compices almost the entire Thuringian Forest and the Thuringian Highland. The region is mostly forested and characterized by deeply incised valleys. The Rennsteig wends its walkway along the crest. Stuetzerbach-081.JPG
Uckermark Flag of Brandenburg.svg  Brandenburg 1997897The landscape of the park was shaped in the ice age; it is more than half forested. Terminal moraine hills and lakes alternate in a small area. Apart from rubble, the ice of the Wolstonian stage left sandur plain with many moors and small elongated lakes in glacial valleys. Lake de Dolgensee Melzow.jpg
Upper Bavarian Forest Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 19651738The park includes the northwestern Bavarian Forest and extends from the crest line to the Falkensteiner Vorwald. The landscape is characterized by wide and gently rolling mountain ridges with their valleys and villages. Lohberg Osser.jpg
Upper Danube Flag of Baden-Wurttemberg.svg  Baden-Württemberg 1980857The park includes the highest areas of the Swabian Jura between Lake Constance and the Black Forest. The Jura plateau is covered by extensive woodland and descends gently to the south. The region's thick limestone layers are cut by the deeply incised Danube. Donautal vom Knopfmacherfelsen.jpg
Upper Palatinate Forest Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg  Bavaria 1971724The park is nearly half forested and characterized by a vast undulating to hilly landscape with many small rivers and brooks. Essentially it includes the Upper and Lower Upper Palatinate Forest. Wolfenstein.jpg
Usedom Flag of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.svg  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 1999632The park includes the island of Usedom, the water between Usedom and the mainland, and a small strip of mainland. Roughly 30 percent of the region is forested. The park has a great variety of landscaoe forms in a small area. Gnitz usedom.jpg
Weser Uplands-Schaumburg-Hamelin Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony 19751116The park lies in the transition area from the low mountains to the North German plain and is divided by the river Weser. A gentle slope, covered by large, contiguous forests, alternate with small valleys. RapsfeldWB.JPG
Westensee Flag of Schleswig-Holstein.svg  Schleswig-Holstein 1969260The park includes domelike hills as well as the Westensee, which dates from the end of the last glacial period and is crossed by the river Eider. The landscape is characterized by gentle hills and valleys, forests, lakes and moors. Catherinenkirche Westensee-1.jpg
Westhavelland Flag of Brandenburg.svg  Brandenburg 19981315The park includes the largest contiguous wetland in inland Europe and is of international significance. Large portions of the region consist of inland dunes and sandur plains. The region is crossed by the river Havel and its tributaries. Rhin in Rhinow 29-05-2010 060.jpg
Wildeshausen Geest Flag of Lower Saxony.svg  Lower Saxony 19841554The park includes the lowlands on both sides of the river Hunte. The thinly forested region is characterized by part of the northwest German Geest ridge and quiet river valleys and heath plains. The region gained its current geological configuration during the Wolstonian Stage. Hunte b Doetlingen.jpg
Zittau Mountains Flag of Saxony.svg  Saxony 2007133The park includes the Zittau Mountains (the German side of the Lusatian Mountains), and lies in the tripoint with Poland and the Czech Republic. This smallest of German low mountain ranges is characterized by variously shaped mountains of sandstone, rock formations, volcanic peaks and incised valleys. Zittauer-Gebirge-06-IV-2007-06.jpg

See also

Related Research Articles

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Heidekreis is a district (Landkreis) in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Harburg, Lüneburg, Uelzen, Celle, Hanover, Nienburg, Verden and Rotenburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dümmer</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feldberg Lake District Nature Park</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lüneburg Heath Nature Park</span>

Lüneburg Heath Nature Park is a nature park, a form of protected environment, located in the Lüneburg Heath in northern Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Südheide Nature Park</span>

The Südheide Nature Park is a large protected area of forest and heathland in the southern part of the Lüneburg Heath in North Germany. It has been designated as a protected nature park since 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Großes Moor (near Becklingen)</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiehnmoor</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dat ole Huus</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belchen</span> Mountain in the Black Forest, Germany

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drömling</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steigerwald Nature Park</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peene Valley</span>

The Peene Valley is a landscape in West Pomerania in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It covers the area on either side of the river Peene in the districts of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte and Vorpommern-Greifswald as the river makes its way from Lake Kummerow past the towns of Dargun, Demmin, Loitz, Jarmen, Gützkow and Anklam to its mouth on the Peenestrom.

Wendland and Altmark, named after the German regions of Wendland and Altmark, is the name of a natural regional major landscape unit group in Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, North Germany. In the Handbook of Natural Region Divisions of Germany it is given serial number 86, the Bundesamt für Naturschutz gives the same region the serial number D29.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Black Forest Nature Park</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central/North Black Forest Nature Park</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swabian-Franconian Forest</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volcanic Eifel Nature Park</span>

The Volcanic Eifel Nature Park lies in the counties of Bernkastel-Wittlich, Cochem-Zell and Vulkaneifel in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The nature park, which is in the Eifel mountains, and which is also a geopark, was inaugurated on 31 May 2010 and has an area of 1,068.24 km².> Its sponsor is the Natur- und Geopark Vulkaneifel GmbH.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taunus Nature Park</span>

The Taunus Nature Park is a nature park in Central Germany with an area of 134,775 hectares (1347.75 km2) in the Central Upland range of the Taunus. It is one of two Hessian nature parks in the Taunus and the second largest nature park in Hesse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhine-Westerwald Nature Park</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gantrisch Regional Nature Park</span>

Gantrisch Regional Nature Park is one of 17 parks of national importance in Switzerland. Of its 19 park communities, 18 are in the canton of Bern and one in the canton of Fribourg. The Gantrisch Nature Park covers an area of 414 km² at an altitude between 510 m and 2239 m (Schafberg) and includes the Schwarzsee tourist region.

References

  1. Verband Deutscher Naturparke
  2. "Protected Planet | Germany". Protected Planet . Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  3. "About us". EUROPARC Federation. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  4. "Lüneburg Heath Nature Park - The largest interconnected heath areas in central Europe - Lüneburg Heath Nature Park - Home". naturpark-lueneburger-heide.de. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  5. "Naturparks in Deutschland nach Größe". Statista (in German). Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  6. "BfN: Naturparke". www.bfn.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  7. "Naturpark Schwarzwald Mitte/Nord". Nationale Naturlandschaften (in German). Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  8. Until 12 December 2005 Naturpark Kottenforst-Ville.
  9. "Naturpark Südschwarzwald - Allgemeines". www.naturpark-suedschwarzwald.de. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  10. "Naturparks in Deutschland nach Größe". Statista (in German). Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  11. The park was previously called Nördlicher Teutoburger Wald-Wiehengebirge.

Further reading