Nature of Germany - national parks and reserves for active recreation

Germany has an incredibly picturesque landscape; there are 14 national and 95 natural parks. In the north of the country, you can find ice. Dense forests prevail in the central part; the Alps are located in the south. Several large rivers - the Rhine, the Danube, the Elbe - are found here. There are numerous lakes too, the largest of which is the Bodensee. The largest national park, Schleswig-Holstein Watts, is located in the north of the country, on the coast of the Wattee Sea and occupies more than 400 thousand hectares. The park is in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Almost 2/3 of lands is regularly flooded during high tides or are permanently under water. There are about 10 million different birds, 2 000 species of insects; common porpoises, gray seals and horsehead seals live in the waters off the coast of the Wattee Sea.

Another northern national park is the Pomeranian lagoon located off the coast of the Baltic Sea. This is a very picturesque place with a rich animal and green worlds and a complex terrain. Wild boars, deer, otters, roe deer, mouflon, and various small mammals live in the park. Fans of animals can get unique impressions in the Eifel Park, in the west of the country. There are about 900 representatives of animals included in the red book. Among them, a black stork, a forest cat, a wall lizard have to be mentioned. The park serves as a shelter not only for them, but also for the centuries-old beech forest. This is one of the most important ecological objects in the country.

Travelers really like the Kellerwald-Edersee park in the central part of the country. Numerous hiking trails lead through incredibly beautiful places on its territory. One of these trails - Ederiz - stretches for 68 kilometers and goes through an ancient beech forest. During walks, you can find nesting black storks, eagle owls, tawny owls, and small owls. Another picturesque place is the Bavarian Forest, located in the south. The basis of the forest is formed by coniferous trees, but you can also find maples, alders, yew trees, and even 50-meter plane trees. There is the glacial lake Rachel with herds of deer living next to it. Tourists will enjoy safe routes and even a special camp. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

A route for cyclists laid in Valley of the Oder reserve starts in the city of Schwed. One of the sections of the road passes along the dam offering a spectacular panorama of the forest. The total length of bicycle trails in the park is more than 200 kilometers. The Luneburger Wilderness Reserve with perennial pine forests is very popular among cycling tourists. The unusual terrain of the park of Saxon Switzerland is so attractive to travelers that some areas were even closed to visitors in order to protect them from human interference. There is also the man-made Lichtenhain waterfall, which is popular among travelers.

In the heart of Munich, there is the largest city park called English. It occupies about 4 square kilometers and is the favorite vacation spot for locals and visitors of the city. Every day, about 50 thousand people come to the park. There are several small attractions on its territory: the Chinese tower, the Japanese tea house, the beer garden, the nudist fields, and the Sant Emmeram bridge. A historic medieval tower was reconstructed in the Babelsberg park in Brandenburg. A fortress and a large palace were preserved, which were used by William I and the Princess Augustus. This is a very picturesque place for walking, excursions, and outdoor recreation.