Steinhuder Meer Nature Park
Encyclopedia
The Steinhuder Meer Nature Park , with northwest Germany's largest inland lake, the Steinhuder Meer, at its heart, covers an area of 310 square kilometres (119.7 sq mi) within the districts of Nienburg and Schaumburg and the region of Hanover. The sponsor of the nature park
, founded in 1974, is Hanover Region.
, northwest of Wunstorf
, north of Hagenburg
and Sachsenhagen
and east of Rehburg-Loccum
, parts of these parishes lying within the nature park itself. In the centre of the nature park is northwest Germany's biggest inland waterbody, Lake Steinhude (Steinhuder Meer). In the north of the nature park is the hillocky forest of Grinderwald
, in the east is the bog of Totes Moor, its southwestern fringes are bordered by the Rehburg Hills
and, in the northwest is the Schneerener Moor.
stop for many wader
s and water fowl. The wet meadow
s in the vicinity of the lake also play an important part here. In the bog
s, some still intact and other recultivated, a large number of rare animal and plant species thrive.
The nature park sees up to 50,000 day visitors at weekends during the summer as a result of the variety of leisure pursuits available in this picturesque landscape. These pursuits include cycling, walking, swimming, sailing and surfing.
The villages of Steinhude
and Mardorf benefit significantly more from this than Rehburg, Winzlar, Hagenburg
or Großenheidorn. Villages bordering the lake have restrictions placed upon them for nature conservation reasons. The height of the water level, the desilting and removal of vegetation from the lake, building near the shores and the management of the stream of tourists are have a significant potential for conflict. Just as conflicting are the restrictions on surfing, sailing and walking in order to support a bird reserve of international standing. The nature park has been commended several times for its providing a model solution to these conflicts of interest between nature conservation and tourism.
Nature park
A nature park is a landscape protected by means of long-term planning, use and agriculture. These valuable landscapes are preserved in their present state and promoted for touristic purposes....
, founded in 1974, is Hanover Region.
Location
The Steinhuder Meer Nature Park lies south of Nienburg/Weser, west of Neustadt am RübenbergeNeustadt am Rübenberge
Neustadt am Rübenberge is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. At 357 km², it is the 9th largest settlement in Germany by area , though only about 45,000 inhabitants live there...
, northwest of Wunstorf
Wunstorf
Wunstorf is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 22 km west of Hanover. The following localities belong to the city of Wunstorf: Blumenau , Bokeloh, Grossenheidorn, Idensen , Klein Heidorn, Kolenfeld, Luthe, Mesmerode, Steinhude, Wunstorf....
, north of Hagenburg
Hagenburg
Hagenburg is a municipality in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
and Sachsenhagen
Sachsenhagen
Sachsenhagen is a town in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 9 km northeast of Stadthagen, and 33 km west of Hanover....
and east of Rehburg-Loccum
Rehburg-Loccum
Rehburg-Loccum is a town 50 km north west of Hanover in the district of Nienburg in Lower Saxony, Germany.-Geographical location:Rehburg-Loccum borders the Steinhude Lake...
, parts of these parishes lying within the nature park itself. In the centre of the nature park is northwest Germany's biggest inland waterbody, Lake Steinhude (Steinhuder Meer). In the north of the nature park is the hillocky forest of Grinderwald
Grinderwald
The Grinderwald is a mixed forest and a low hill range, up to , in Hanover Region and the Lower Saxon district of Nienburg/Weser in Germany.- Geology :...
, in the east is the bog of Totes Moor, its southwestern fringes are bordered by the Rehburg Hills
Rehburg Hills
The Rehburg Hills are a hill range, up to , in the districts of Nienburg and Schaumburg in Lower Saxony, Germany.- Origin of the name :The Rehburg Hills and their foothills give the impression of being several small neighbouring hills. The little village of Bad Rehburg was a well-known spa and...
and, in the northwest is the Schneerener Moor.
Description
Over 10 % of the nature park is under nature protection and over 65 % under landscape protection. The Steinhuder Meer ("Lake Steinhude"), which is just under 30 square kilometres (11.6 sq mi) in area and only 1.5 m deep, is a wetland of international importance and is a breeding and overwintering area and migrationBird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
stop for many wader
Wader
Waders, called shorebirds in North America , are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-footed seabird groups. The latter are the skuas , gulls , terns , skimmers , and auks...
s and water fowl. The wet meadow
Wet meadow
A wet meadow is a semi-wetland meadow which is saturated with water throughout much of the year. Wet meadows may occur because of poor drainage or the receipt of large amounts of water from rain or melted snow. They may also occur in riparian zones....
s in the vicinity of the lake also play an important part here. In the bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
s, some still intact and other recultivated, a large number of rare animal and plant species thrive.
The nature park sees up to 50,000 day visitors at weekends during the summer as a result of the variety of leisure pursuits available in this picturesque landscape. These pursuits include cycling, walking, swimming, sailing and surfing.
The villages of Steinhude
Steinhude
Steinhude is a village in the borough of Wunstorf in Hanover Region in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is a tourist resort on the southern shore of Lake Steinhude....
and Mardorf benefit significantly more from this than Rehburg, Winzlar, Hagenburg
Hagenburg
Hagenburg is a municipality in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
or Großenheidorn. Villages bordering the lake have restrictions placed upon them for nature conservation reasons. The height of the water level, the desilting and removal of vegetation from the lake, building near the shores and the management of the stream of tourists are have a significant potential for conflict. Just as conflicting are the restrictions on surfing, sailing and walking in order to support a bird reserve of international standing. The nature park has been commended several times for its providing a model solution to these conflicts of interest between nature conservation and tourism.