Døndalen

Døndalen is a valley in the northern part of the Danish island of Bornholm. Near the road located to the Tejn Gudhjem, it is famous for Denmark's longest waterfall. Døndalen extends over an area of 37 hectares.

History

It seems that Døndalen is forested since the last ice age about 10,000 years ago. Since 7000 years, the environment consists deciduous trees. In the valley numerous archaeological discoveries were made, such as burial sites and evidence of cremation. As part of the defenses of the island earthworks were built at the bottom of the valley near the coast in the 16th century. The dams, which can still be seen today, gave protection to those who discourage the enemies with cannons and guns.

Landscape

Approximately in the middle of the valley of the brook falls Døndaleå about 20 meters in depth, thus forming Denmark's largest waterfall. The rocky north-western shore rises about 25 meters high to the viewpoint Amtmandsstenen, which provides a view over the Baltic Sea to Christiansø. The Døndaleå is 6.5 km long and rises in the near Dammemose Klemensker. In particular, the path from Røvejen ( the road from Rø after Olsker ) to the coast is interesting because here the landscape is very varied. Most of the time the creek only a small trickle, but in winter and spring of the waterfall can be very impressive.

Flora and Fauna

Døndalen has an active bird life, especially in the spring with nightingales, blackcaps, garden warblers, tree runners and chaffinches. Even buzzards are often heard. In the early morning are often seen deer in the woods. The Bach inhabit among other salmon.

In addition to wild garlic and white, yellow and blue anemone grows here, among others, the Southeastern Arum. Occasionally different species of orchids can be seen, including the orchid and nest Wurzen. For tree species in Døndalen include hornbeam, silver birch, common ash, elm and hazel as well as several varieties of mountain ash. In 1916, the farmer Aksel Jensen cultivated the northeastern side of the Døndalen. He planted there 150 species of trees from all over the world, including the Chinese cork oak, the coast redwood, the Himalayan fir and a rare European variant of the wild service tree.