Blue winged gra Basic Information The Elbe Valley – a near-natural landscape with a rich diversity of species Status: The river Elbe and its Surroundings The Elbe Marshes Dunes and Forests Lower Saxonian section of the UNESCO Biosphere Even today, the river Elbe remains relatively close to its Within the dyked part of the Elbe marshes meadowlands The inland dunes which Reserve ‘Flusslandschaft Elbe’ (Elbe River Landscape), original, natural condition. Many natural bank structures, which have been in use since historic times can still be characterise the Elbe valley year of recognition: 1997 flood channels and oxbow lakes have been preserved. seen in the landscape: enclosed marshlands near Lüne- around 15,000 years old. Legal framework: State Law on the Biosphere Reserve The Elbe regularly floods the surrounding countryside. burg, so-called ‘Wölbwiesen’ (specially ploughed meadows South-westerly winds transported the valley sands and ‘Niedersächsische Elbtalaue’ (Lower Saxonian Elbe Val- Alluvial forests with willows, reeds and shrubs line the with an undulating appearance), drainage systems, pol- deposited them mainly on the eastern edge of the Elbe ley), passed on 14th November 2002 Elbe Administration: banks of the waterways. This is the home of the Elbe bea- larded willows, avenues of fruit trees, hedges and gnarled valley. Some of them attain a height of 35 m. The largest Fähre Biosphärenreservatsverwaltung ver, the population of which has increased to more than old oak trees in the villages and meadows. dunes arose between what is now Neuhaus and Tripkau. g ElbElbstraße r A g g e n r d b e e Location: n Niedersächsische Elbtalaue 300 individuals in the Lower Saxonian river section. Also, There are still meadows and pastures in the area which are The area was afforested with pine trees in the 19th cen- b b r i a n e l e te W g g n J n m e a North-eastern Lower Saxony, 50 km south-east of Ham- t "N.BSLUt%)JU[BDLFS otters are to be found in many places. VTFEGPSFYUFOTJWFHSB[JOH)PXFWFS UIFZBSFEXJOEMJOH tury. Nowadays, only the Stixer Dune is still mobile on A z L L e l AmA Markt l m A burg; Rural Districts: Lüchow-Dannenberg and Lüne- A MarschtorstraßeM Tel.: +49 5862/9673-0 Over 100 pairs of storks breed in the biosphere reserve. on account of the increasing pressure towards intensified account of wind action. burg; Area: 567 km²; River kilometres: 96.5 km from r Fax: +49 5862/9673-20 The wetlands of the floodplain guarantee a sufficient sup- usage. With their disappearance, the longstanding diver- The sparsely planted pine groves alternate with reindeer Schnackenburg to Lauenburg (from Elbe-km 472.5 to ertor [email protected] ply of food and a high rate of breeding success. sity of the ecological communities in these areas is becom- lichen, areas of grey hair-grass and open stretches of sand. ahwehnertorstraß 511.5 on the west bank, from 511.5 to 569 on both banks Drahwehnertorstraße www.elbtalaue.niedersachsen.de The flooded water meadows represent resting areas of ing less as well. Especially noticeable is the downward These surroundings provide habitats for specialists such L231 Neues Elbufer of the Elbe); Altitude: from 5 to 109 m above sea level L230 international significance for migrating and overwintering trend in the numbers of meadow birds such as plovers, as woodlarks, nightjars, ant lions, sand bees and band- wading and water fowl. redshanks, godwits or curlews. winged grasshoppers. Some of the valleys of the dunes Natural Surroundings and Landscape Types: Information Centre: When the white sandy banks of the Elbe become vis- This region has become an ideal resting area for migratory have developed into small raised bogs. Lowlands of the Lower Middle Elbe, Water meadow land- ElbSchloss Bleckede ible in late summer, plants can be observed which are birds coming from the northern tundra. Whooper swans The remnants of old mixed deciduous woods are to be scape with marshlands, marshy meadows, old river arms 4DIMPTTTUSt%#MFDLFEF only to be found in such river valleys, e.g. yellowheads, and tundra swans, bean geese and white fronted geese all found on the nutrient-rich marsh soils with their high and residual riparian woodlands, wooded valley sand areas Tel.: +49 5852/9514-0 TUSBQXPSU UIFJOEJHFOPVTA&MCTQJU[LMFUUF 9BOUIJVN use the Elbe valley as a migration route and refuge in winter. water tables. A characteristic of these woods is the high and inland dunes Fax: +49 5852/9514-99 albinum) and black poplars. As reminders of the river dynamics of the past, natural diversity of species. They are the homes of endangered [email protected] Of the natural hardwood forests only small residues and oxbow lakes, silted stretches and seepage water ponds provide birds such as black and red kites, black and middle spotted Natura 2000 Areas: www.elbschloss-bleckede.de individual oaks and elms remain in the riparian area. rare habitats for endangered fish species such as the spined woodpeckers, white-tailed eagles and black storks. Special Area of Conservation ‘Elbe Lowlands between loach and European weather loach as well as amphibians Schnackenburg and Geesthacht’ as per EU Habitats such as the fire-bellied toad, tree frogs and the crested newt. Directive, Area: 227 km²; Special Protection Area ‘The Published by and available from: Biosphärenreservatsverwaltung Niedersächsische Elbtalaue Middle Elbe in Lower Saxony’ according to the EU Birds 1st Edition 2008: 3,000 Directive; Area: 325 km² A riverine landscape with Concept and Text: Dr. Brigitte Königstedt 5SBOTMBUJPO$IBSMFT8BSDVQt%FTJHO½,PO[FQU)BMMF Photos: D. Damschen (3); ElbTDIMPTT#MFDLFEF )BVTEFT(BTUFT/FVIBVT (a model) character Usage / Settlement: $IS,BJTFS #,ÚOJHTUFEU .4QJFHFM 04DIXBS[FS Agriculture and forestry; rural settlement structure; tributaries Population of the biosphere reserve: 20,000, equivalent to 35 persons / km² Elbe – floodplains with flood channels and oxbow lakes – dike – seepage water – settlements – Elbe marshlands with fields and forest – sand dunes – bog – valley margin – plateau The Elbe Valley – a historical The Elbe Valley – cultural landscape with a wide spectrum of usages a landscape to be enjoyed Agriculture Fisheries Forestry … with many ways to experience Nature The ElbSchloss in Bleckede In Contact with the Countryside The construction of dykes along the Elbe began in the 14th In the past, the Elbe was one of Europe’s most fish-rich Somewhat less than a quarter of the biosphere reserve The countryside on the banks of the river Elbe represents an Since May 2002, this baroque Theere is a wide variety of different ways for visitors to century, and since then arable farming has played an increasing rivers. However, the fish stocks began to deplete when the is wooded. The dry valley sand soils and dunes support ideal place for nature tourists. The biosphere reserve adminis- housed the information centre explore the rural beauty of the Elbe Valley. You can choose role in the marshlands. The fertile clay soils proved difficult to river was subjected to engineering measures from the end mainly pinewoods, which are of considerable interest tration supports the development of tourism in the region. Its ‘Lower Saxonian Elbe Valley’. It contains an exhibition between walking, cycling, fishing, riding or even travelling plough, but returned high yields. of the 19th century onwards, such as the construction of from the nature conservation point of view. The propor- aim is to enable visitors to experience nature without having a covering over 1,000m² which serves to display the unique in a horse drawn wagon. Don’t forget to bring a pair of Today, the main crops are winter grains and winter rape, groynes. These constructions caused the disappearance of tion of deciduous forest is only 22% of the total wooded OFHBUJWFJOGMVFODFPOJU5IF[POFTEFTJHOBUFEBTA$HSBEFBSF nature of the Elbe countryside as well as the efforts being binoculars with you, as there is always something worth whereby root crops are more prevalent on the lighter, sandy many shallow and still water areas as habitats for various area. Deciduous trees are found in small breaks on the included in a series of schemes promoting experience of nature made to preserve it. The centre also organises special events having a good look at – an Elbe beaver or saplings which it soils. The trend towards the utilisation of regenerative energy fish species. A further depletion occurred as a result of floodplains and in marshy areas. The state owned in a supervisedupervis manner. and guided tours. There is a 20m high tower next to the has felled, a group of frogs spawning together or the diverse IBTMFEUPXBSETBOJODSFBTFJONBJ[FQSPEVDUJPO industrial pollution. forests are administered by the Forestry Office ell as the main information centre at the ElbSchloss in ElbSchloss which provides a view over the riverside marshes. bird world, for instance. On the floodplains of the Elbe and its tributaries it is usually Since the water quality has begun to improve again, the in Göhrde. They are managed with a view to ede further information offices are being established in The ‘Umweltwerkstatt’ – the ‘environmental workshop’ – has Well worth recommending is a boat trip along the Elbe. And POMZQPTTJCMFUPVTFUIFMBOEGPSFYUFOTJWFHSB[JOHPSNPXJOH fisheries industry on the Elbe has started a comeback. Just long term, sustainable and ecologically sound ow, Dannenberg, Neuhaus and Preten. A carefully planned been set up to give children from kindergartens and schools for those who wish to get some exercise at the same time, The widespread marsh grasslands are intensively used for the within the stretches designated as biosphere reserve, 40 development. Some areas have been set aside ork of walking, cycling and riding paths is designed to the opportunity to discover nature at first hand. The Elb- guided canoe tours are a guarantee for a worthwhile experi- production of hay and silage.