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Spreewald Biosphere Reserve

(Biosphärenreservat Spreewald)

Size475 km2, broken down as follows:

Nature conservation areas:

  • Zones 1 and 2: 102 km2 = 21.7 per cent

Landscape conservation areas:

  • Zones 3 and 4: 372 km2 = 78.3 per cent

  • There is a huge diversity of species here, including 830 species of butterfly, 113 species of mussel and snail, 18 species of amphibian and reptile, 48 species of dragonfly, 35 species of fish, 61 species of mammal and approximately 270 species of bird, 150 of which are breeding species

Just under one hundred kilometres south-east of Berlin there lies a landscape unique to Central Europe – the Spreewald forest. After the last ice age, the River Spree divided here into a finely branched network of streams which once meandered through a dense primeval forest, giving rise to the name "Spreewald", combining "Spree", the name of the river, with "Wald", the German word for forest. The particular charm of the Spreewald forest lies in its park-like scenery criss-crossed by many streams. Cultivation led to a mosaic of little meadows, fields and woodland interlaced with the streams. Today the Spreewald forest is a meadow landscape bearing the imprint of man and yet still largely natural and therefore a rich and diverse wildlife habitat. Species are still found here which are endangered in other places or are already extinct. In a bid to protect and preserve this landscape, the Spreewald forest was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1990 and gained UNESCO status in 1991. Tourism is of great significance to the area. Indeed, the allure of the Spreewald forest attracts more than four million tourists a year, making it the most visited region in Brandenburg.

Contact

Biosphärenreservat Spreewald
Schulstr. 9
03222 Lübbenau (Spreewald)

Tel.: 03542 89210
Fax: 03542 892140
E-Mail: br-spreewald @ lugv.brandenburg.de