Aschau (Lachte)
Encyclopedia
The Aschau is a stream in the Südheide Nature Park
in Lower Saxony
, Germany
, It is a tributary of the Lachte
, which in turn discharges into the River Aller
.
, carp
, tench
, pike
, ide, signal crayfish
and noble crayfish
are extensively farmed. The area is also a habitat for gudgeon
, roach, stickleback
, bitterling
and swan mussel
s.
The ponds have been part of a wetland
nature reserve
since 1982. In 1987 they were also designated as a bird reserve
. Since 2003 the area has been an EU bird reserve and since 2005 it has been part of the EU's nature conservation project, Natura 2000
, as Special Protection Area
86, the Lachte-Lutter-Aschau Nature Reserve.
, is joined from the left by the Postmoorgraben, and then flows through extensively managed meadows and natural, original forest to Eschede
, before continuing to Habighorst
. It then picks up the Quarmbach from the right, a stream which rises in Rahmoor, and which forms a large swamp and lake area just before its confluence with the Aschau. Just north of this area is the Hoppenrieth Nature Reserve. By the 15th century the Quarmbach had been impounded to drive the local mill, the Quarmühle and some of the ponds must date back to that period. In the 1980s the mill fell into disrepair and later burned down. The Aschau continues past the abandoned Mariaglück potash mine. and on to Höfer
. It flows south through Beedenbostel
and discharges shortly afterwards into the Lachte
.
Südheide Nature Park
The Südheide Nature Park is a large protected area of forest and heathland in the southern part of the Lüneburg Heath in North Germany...
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...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, It is a tributary of the Lachte
Lachte
The Lachte is a roughly long right-hand tributary of the River Aller in the Südheide Nature Park in the north German state of Lower Saxony.- Course :The Lachte rises in the northern part of the district of Gifhorn southwest of Sprakensehl...
, which in turn discharges into the River Aller
River Aller
The River Aller is a small river on Exmoor in Somerset, England.It rises as several small streams around Tivington and Huntscott and flows through the Holnicote Estate past Holnicote and through Allerford, where it passes under a packhorse bridge of medieval origin. It then joins the River Horner,...
.
Source region
The Aschau originates in Loher Ponds (Loher Teiche), artificially-created in the 1890s. These ponds are fed by a headstream, the Drellebach. In 1903 more ponds were added to the south and designated as the Aschau Ponds (Aschau Teiche). The entire area today consists of about 50 artificial ponds where troutTrout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, carp
Common carp
The Common carp is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia. The wild populations are considered vulnerable to extinction, but the species has also been domesticated and introduced into environments worldwide, and is often considered an invasive...
, tench
Tench
The tench or doctor fish is a freshwater and brackish water fish of the cyprinid family found throughout Eurasia from Western Europe including the British Isles east into Asia as far as the Ob and Yenisei Rivers. It is also found in Lake Baikal...
, pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, ide, signal crayfish
Signal crayfish
The signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, is a North American species of crayfish. It was introduced to Europe in the 1960s to supplement the Scandinavian Astacus astacus fisheries, which were being damaged by crayfish plague, but the imports turned out to be a carrier of that disease...
and noble crayfish
Astacus astacus
Astacus astacus, the European crayfish, noble crayfish or broad-fingered crayfish, is the most common species of crayfish in Europe, and a traditional foodstuff. Like other crayfish, Astacus astacus is restricted to fresh water, living only in unpolluted streams, rivers and lakes...
are extensively farmed. The area is also a habitat for gudgeon
Gudgeon
A gudgeon is a circular fitting, often made of metal, which is affixed to a surface. It allows for the pivoting of another fixture. It is generally used with a pintle, which is a pin which pivots in the hole in the gudgeon. As such, a gudgeon is a simple bearing.-Winged gudgeons:A winged gudgeon...
, roach, stickleback
Stickleback
The Gasterosteidae are a family of fish including the sticklebacks. FishBase currently recognises sixteen species in the family, grouped in five genera. However several of the species have a number of recognised subspecies, and the taxonomy of the family is thought to be in need of revision...
, bitterling
Rhodeus amarus
The European Bitterling, Rhodeus amarus, is a temperate freshwater fish belonging to the Acheilognathinae sub-family of the Cyprinidae family. It originates in Europe, ranging from the Rhone River basin in France to the Neva River in Russia...
and swan mussel
Swan mussel
The swan mussel, Anodonta cygnea, is a large species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Unionidae, the river mussels....
s.
The ponds have been part of a wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
since 1982. In 1987 they were also designated as a bird reserve
Bird Reserve
A bird reserve is a wildlife refuge designed to protect bird species. Like other wildlife refuges, the main goal of a reserve is to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct. Typically, bird species in a reserve are protected from hunting and habitat destruction...
. Since 2003 the area has been an EU bird reserve and since 2005 it has been part of the EU's nature conservation project, Natura 2000
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the territory of the European Union.-Origins:In May 1992, the governments of the European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This legislation is called the...
, as Special Protection Area
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
86, the Lachte-Lutter-Aschau Nature Reserve.
Course
After leaving the Loher Ponds, the Aschau picks up the Dallebach and flows in a generally southerly direction, first through the Aschau Ponds. It passes under the B 191 federal roadBundesstraße 191
The Bundesstraße 191 or B 191 is a German federal road. It begins in Celle at the B 3 and ends in Plau am See at the B 103.- Origins :The old unmetalled road between Ludwigslust and Parchim was upgraded in 1845 to a surfaced road...
, is joined from the left by the Postmoorgraben, and then flows through extensively managed meadows and natural, original forest to Eschede
Eschede
Eschede is a municipality in the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Situated approximately 15 km northeast of Celle, Eschede lies at the border of the renowned Südheide Nature Park, a protected area of large forests and heaths. Today around 20 small villages are part of the...
, before continuing to Habighorst
Habighorst
Habighorst is a municipality in the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
. It then picks up the Quarmbach from the right, a stream which rises in Rahmoor, and which forms a large swamp and lake area just before its confluence with the Aschau. Just north of this area is the Hoppenrieth Nature Reserve. By the 15th century the Quarmbach had been impounded to drive the local mill, the Quarmühle and some of the ponds must date back to that period. In the 1980s the mill fell into disrepair and later burned down. The Aschau continues past the abandoned Mariaglück potash mine. and on to Höfer
Höfer
Höfer is a German surname derived from Hof and which refer to* Höfer, Germany, a municipality in the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany...
. It flows south through Beedenbostel
Beedenbostel
Beedenbostel is a municipality in the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
and discharges shortly afterwards into the Lachte
Lachte
The Lachte is a roughly long right-hand tributary of the River Aller in the Südheide Nature Park in the north German state of Lower Saxony.- Course :The Lachte rises in the northern part of the district of Gifhorn southwest of Sprakensehl...
.