Utrecht Hill Ridge
Encyclopedia
Utrecht Hill Ridge is a ridge of low sandhills that stretches in a direction from southeast to northwest over the Dutch province
of Utrecht
and over a part of North Holland
. The total length of the region is about 50 km. It covers an area of approximately 23.000 ha
. The part of the ridge in North Holland is commonly called “Het Gooi
”.
On the southeastern side the ridge rises sharply from the valley of the Nederrijn
(“Lower Rhine”). Here the famous Grebbeberg (“Grebbe Mountain”) forms a landmark (52 m. high) where Battle of the Grebbeberg
took place in 1940 as important part of Battle of the Netherlands
. The highest peak of the ridge is the Amerongse Berg (“Amerongen Mountain”) of 68 m. On the northern side the ridge continues to the shores of the Gooimeer
(“Lake Gooi”).
The Utrecht Hill Ridge was created 150.000 years ago as a push moraine
in the Wolstonian Stage, a middle Pleistocene glacial period. Before that time the rivers Rhine and Meuse
flowed more north, and created deposits of sand. The glaciers pushed this deposits in a southern and western direction.
After the last Ice Age the area got overgrown with woods. In historical times the population increased and woodlands were cleared for cattle and sheep. The Utrecht Hill Ridge was then largely covered with heather and sand drifts. In the 19th and 20th century large parts of the ridge were replanted with trees again.
The Utrecht Hill Ridge has given name to:
Provinces of the Netherlands
A Dutch province represents the administrative layer in between the national government and the local municipalities, having the responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance. The government of each province consists of three major parts: the Provinciale Staten which is the...
of Utrecht
Utrecht (province)
Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands in terms of area, and is located in the centre of the country. It is bordered by the Eemmeer in the north, Gelderland in the east, the river Rhine in the south, South Holland in the west, and North Holland in the northwest...
and over a part of North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
. The total length of the region is about 50 km. It covers an area of approximately 23.000 ha
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
. The part of the ridge in North Holland is commonly called “Het Gooi
Gooi
Het Gooi is the area around Hilversum in the centre of the Netherlands. It is a slightly hilly area characterised by its green landscape, its historical charm, the wealth of its inhabitants, and its villas. Het Gooi is known in the Netherlands as the home of the rich and famous.- Name :The name...
”.
On the southeastern side the ridge rises sharply from the valley of the Nederrijn
Nederrijn
thumb|left|300px|Course of the NederrijnNederrijn is the name of the Dutch part of the River Rhine from the confluence at the town of Angeren of the cut-off Rhine bend of Oude Rijn and the Pannerdens Kanaal...
(“Lower Rhine”). Here the famous Grebbeberg (“Grebbe Mountain”) forms a landmark (52 m. high) where Battle of the Grebbeberg
Battle of the Grebbeberg
The Battle of the Grebbeberg was a major engagement during the Battle of the Netherlands, which was a part of the World War II Operation Fall Gelb in 1940.-Background:In the 1930s, the Dutch government pursued a policy of strict neutrality...
took place in 1940 as important part of Battle of the Netherlands
Battle of the Netherlands
The Battle of the Netherlands was part of Case Yellow , the German invasion of the Low Countries and France during World War II. The battle lasted from 10 May 1940 until 14 May 1940 when the main Dutch forces surrendered...
. The highest peak of the ridge is the Amerongse Berg (“Amerongen Mountain”) of 68 m. On the northern side the ridge continues to the shores of the Gooimeer
Gooimeer
The Gooimeer is a bordering lake in the Netherlands between the southeastern part of North Holland and Flevoland....
(“Lake Gooi”).
The Utrecht Hill Ridge was created 150.000 years ago as a push moraine
Push moraine
A push moraine or pushed moraine is in geomorphology a moraine that forms when the terminus advance of a lowland glacier pushes unstratified glacial sediment into a pile or linear ridge in front of it. A push moraine is identified by its ability to push sediment upwards from its original...
in the Wolstonian Stage, a middle Pleistocene glacial period. Before that time the rivers Rhine and Meuse
Meuse River
The Maas or Meuse is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea...
flowed more north, and created deposits of sand. The glaciers pushed this deposits in a southern and western direction.
After the last Ice Age the area got overgrown with woods. In historical times the population increased and woodlands were cleared for cattle and sheep. The Utrecht Hill Ridge was then largely covered with heather and sand drifts. In the 19th and 20th century large parts of the ridge were replanted with trees again.
The Utrecht Hill Ridge has given name to:
- a municipality in the southern part of the ridge, that was formed 1 January 2006 as a combination of the former municipalities of Amerongen, DoornDoornDoorn is a town in the municipality of Utrechtse Heuvelrug in the central Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. On 1 January 2008 the town had 10,052 inhabitants.-History:...
, Driebergen-RijsenburgDriebergen-RijsenburgDriebergen-Rijsenburg is a town in the municipality Utrechtse Heuvelrug in the central Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht.-External links:**...
, Leersum, and Maarn. See: Utrechtse HeuvelrugUtrechtse HeuvelrugUtrechtse Heuvelrug is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. It was formed on 1 January 2006 by combining the former municipalities of Amerongen, Doorn, Driebergen-Rijsenburg, Leersum, and Maarn.-Name:...
. - a national park in the southern part of the region, that was established 11 October 2003. It covers 6.000 ha.