Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park
Encyclopedia
The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park was founded in 1961 and lies in the district of Lauenburg in the southeastern part of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein
. It is right on the border with the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the Schleswig-Holstein Uplands
, a Young Drift moraine
landscape that formed during the Weichselian glaciation of the last ice age.
of Schaalsee
and, together, they form a large nature reserve along the former Inner German Border.
The largest lakes in the nature park are the Ratzeburger See
and the Schaalsee
, which are linked together by the Schaalsee Canal that begins near Salem.
Within the nature park are the district towns of Ratzeburg and Mölln as well as the Hellbach Valley. The Old Salt Road
from Lüneburg to Lübeck runs through the nature park – at several places, such as Fredeburg
, still as a medieval route - the Alte Salzstraße. The nature park is roughly bordered to the west between Berkenthin
and Büchen
by the Elbe-Lübeck Canal
. The Naturparkweg
nature trail runs through the park and links it to the other four nature parks in Schleswig-Holstein
.
The watershed between the North
and Baltic Sea
s also runs through the nature park.
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
. It is right on the border with the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the Schleswig-Holstein Uplands
Schleswig-Holstein Uplands
The Schleswig-Holstein Uplands is one of the three landscapes of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein; the others being the marsch and the geest...
, a Young Drift moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
landscape that formed during the Weichselian glaciation of the last ice age.
Location and significance
With an area of over 470 km² the nature park is the third largest in Schleswig-Holstein and contains extensive stretches of forest. The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park, there are 40 lakes in total, borders directly on the Mecklenburg 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:...
of Schaalsee
Schaalsee
Schaalsee is a lake in Germany. It forms part of the border between Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern . The town of Zarrentin is located on its southern shores...
and, together, they form a large nature reserve along the former Inner German Border.
The largest lakes in the nature park are the Ratzeburger See
Ratzeburger See
Ratzeburger See is a lake in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. At an elevation of 4 m, its surface area is 14.3 km².- External links :...
and the Schaalsee
Schaalsee
Schaalsee is a lake in Germany. It forms part of the border between Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern . The town of Zarrentin is located on its southern shores...
, which are linked together by the Schaalsee Canal that begins near Salem.
Within the nature park are the district towns of Ratzeburg and Mölln as well as the Hellbach Valley. The Old Salt Road
Old Salt Route
The Old Salt Route was a medieval trade route in northern Germany, one of the ancient network of salt roads which were used primarily for the transport of salt and other staples...
from Lüneburg to Lübeck runs through the nature park – at several places, such as Fredeburg
Fredeburg
Fredeburg is a municipality in the district of Lauenburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
, still as a medieval route - the Alte Salzstraße. The nature park is roughly bordered to the west between Berkenthin
Berkenthin
Berkenthin is a municipality in the district of Lauenburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated on the Elbe-Lübeck Canal, approx. 10 km northwest of Ratzeburg, and 15 km south of Lübeck....
and Büchen
Büchen
Büchen is a municipality in the district of Lauenburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated on the Elbe-Lübeck Canal, approx. 13 km northeast of Lauenburg/Elbe, and 45 km east of Hamburg....
by the Elbe-Lübeck Canal
Elbe-Lübeck Canal
The Elbe-Lübeck Canal is an artificial waterway in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It connects the Elbe and Trave rivers, hence constituting an accessway from the Elbe to the Baltic Sea. It is long; the northern terminus is Lübeck, the southern terminus is the town of Lauenburg...
. The Naturparkweg
Naturparkweg
The Naturparkweg is a nature trail which links the five nature parks in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. It runs fromEckernförde via Aschberg, Sehestedt, Westensee, Brammer, Aukrug, Brokstedt, Wiemersdorf, Fehrenbötel, Blunk, Bad Segeberg, Bad Oldesloe to the Lauenburg Lakes.The trail is...
nature trail runs through the park and links it to the other four nature parks in Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
.
The watershed between the North
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
and Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
s also runs through the nature park.
See also
- Other lakes in the nature park: Behlendorfer See | GarrenseeGarrenseeGarrensee is a lake in Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
| PinnseePinnseePinnsee is a lake in Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. At an elevation of , its surface area is 2.5 ha.... - List of nature parks in Germany