Natural regions of Germany

A division of Germany into the natural space large regions, main units and sub-units considered primarily geomorphological, geological, hydrological, pedological and biogeographical criteria to divide the landscape into larger uniform areas. Political borders are, apart from the national external borders do not matter.

In addition to the natural geographical division, there are now also officially a division into so-called landscape areas that are more on the use of regions is by the people and accordingly partly draws significantly different limits.

3.1 North and Baltic Seas 3.1.1 North Sea
3.1.2 Baltic Sea

3.2.1 marshland
3.2.2 Mecklenburgisch - Vorpommersches coast
3.2.3 East German Lakeland
3.2.4 Central North German Lowlands
3.2.5 Lössbörden

3.3.1 Rhenish Slate Mountains
3.3.2 Lower Saxon and Hessian Mountains
3.3.3 resin
3.3.4 Thuringian Basin
3.3.5 Eastern Central Upland Range

3.4.1 Pfälzisch - Saarländisches cuesta
3.4.2 Oberrheinisches lowland
3.4.3 Südwestdeutsches Scarps
3.4.4 Oberpfälzisch - Obermainisches hills

3.5.1 Northern Alpine Foreland
3.5.2 Southern foothills of the Alps

3.6.1 Nagelfluh mountains of the Appenzell Alps
3.6.2 Front Bregenzerwald
3.6.3 Swabian- Bavarian Alps
3.6.4 Austrian Alps
3.6.5 Northern high lime Alps ( western part )
3.6.6 Northern high lime Alps ( eastern part )
3.6.7 Central Alps

Foundations by the Federal Institute for Regional Studies

The natural spatial structure of Germany, as both the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN ) and is also used by most state institutions today is based mainly on the work of the manual of the biogeographic division of Germany, the year 1953 until 1962. This divided the current federal territory ( time: FRG and GDR ) in 86 so-called main unit groups with two -digit codes 01-90, which in up to 10, in individual cases also more main units ( three digits) were again split. In the manual for the corresponding mapping at a scale of 1:1,000,000, the main unit groups were again summarized into higher-level large regions with the updated map of 1960.

As a result, a division of Germany was in five ( 1979: six ) natural spatial major regions (Great landscapes) 1st order, resulting in a total of 18 ( 1964: 19) split large regions of 2nd order. The main unit groups present therein in the main, large regions 3rd order represents the main units Regions 4th order. Some large regions 2nd order containing only one main unit group ( Mecklenburgisch - Vorpommersches coast, Harz, Thuringian Basin, Obermainisch - Upper Palatine hills, Southern foothills of the Alps ), while others hold name known large landscapes together (Rhenish Slate Mountains, south-west German levels country), others grouped entirely new.

In the up to the 1990s, continuous follow-up work in single sheets of 1:200,000, which served the development of regions 5 and lower order (fractions behind the three-digit main unit code), it turned out that some of the limitations of the principal regions 2nd and 3rd order corrected had to be and were no longer compatible with the boundaries of the main unit groups in some situations these. This play, however, in the decade following numbering system that starts even from the 3rd order, no matter.

Reorganization by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation

In the years 1992-1994 revised Axel Ssymank et al on behalf of the BfN the main unit groups 01-90. Here, these tended to stay in their limits obtained, while the main unit groups were summarized according to manual while in the North and Baltic Sea an old group was split into four new in individual cases 2-4.

The numbering of the new units D01 to D73 was completely new from north to south and not, as in the manual, in the reverse direction. Therefore, it is not compatible with the numbering of the main units and sub-units, which is why she has not prevailed in the country offices. Even BfN itself follows the nomenclature of its landscape characteristics largely the - older - Systematics of the manual.

The natural spaces summarizes Ssymank together to 8 so-called major regions, the slightly less finely divided than the major regions of 2nd order of the Federal Institute for Regional Studies. The only discrepancy between the two systems is the splitting of the North German lowlands into an eastern and a western part, which is explained by the climatic division in atlantic and continental. The boundary is arbitrarily drawn immediately to the east of the units D22, D24, D28, D31 and D33. In the literature, these large-scale landscapes are not yet quoted.

Landscape characteristics of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation

BfN has also given nationwide, the split into so-called landscapes in order, were created for each so-called landscape characteristics. These were primarily a rough categorization into 28 landscape types, which are divided into a total of 856 landscapes, and the inventory of protected areas and land use. They do not represent natural spatial structure and were also created with relatively little effort; particular landscapes were analyzed only in rare cases locally, but judged in the main by satellite images and existing lists. In addition, individual information obtained from the individual sheets of 1:200,000 were combined, these existed.

The landscape characteristics have five-digit codes, the first of three match most of the biogeographic main unit according to the manual; Agglomerations of it sorted separately.

List of major regions 1 to 3 order

The main unit groups that correspond more or less large regions 3rd order are referred to below as large regions of 2nd order and this in turn large regions first order. This division originates mainly the publications of the Institute for Regional Studies since 1960:

The first draft of Heinrich Müller- Miny appeared in the updated map to the manual, the overview maps of the single sheets published from 1960 and 9 in the manual delivery (1962 )
In the single sheets published from 1964 this design was slightly changed: The Oberpfälzisch - Obermainische hills rose from the Greater Region 3rd-order to a second order.
The 2nd order Lössbörden region was expanded, particularly in the West.

The region first -order low mountain range was divided into two major regions in the 1st order Low Mountain Range and cuesta

Due to the changes in the Lössbörden it comes to that spread a few main groups of units now in two major regions second or even first order.

For a better overview the major regions 1st and 2nd order from north to south, listed sorted secondarily from west to east. Within a region, second or third order the listing follows then preceded by the numbers after manual; the numbers after BfN are provided in parentheses hintenan. True major regions 3rd order are bold and italic.

For better orientation, are to the right of the cut- lists cards that are all held on the same scale.

North and Baltic Seas

Here, exceptionally, there is a list of three-digit main units of the group 90, as these are de facto major regions 3rd order.

North Sea

900 German Bight ( without rock base Helgoland) ( D70 )
901 Dogger Bank and adjoining central North Sea ( D71 )

Baltic Sea

902 Western Baltic ( D72 )
903 Eastern Baltic ( D73 )

North German Lowlands

Marshes

61 Ems and Weser marshes ( D25 )
67 Lower Elbe lowlands ( Elbmarsch ) ( D24 )

Mecklenburgisch - Vorpommersches coast

71 Mecklenburgisch - Vorpommersches coastal area ( D01 )

East German Lakeland

70 Schleswig -Holstein hills ( D23 )
Nordostmecklenburgisches plains with Oderhaffgebiet ( D02 ) 72 Nordostmecklenburgisches lowland
73 Oderhaffgebiet

Main units 800 and 801

Central North German Lowlands

Ems -Weser Geest Dumber - Geest lowland and EMS Hunte Geest ( D30 ) 58 Duemmer Geest lowland
59 EMS Hunte Geest

63 Stader Geest ( D27 )
64 Lüneburg Heath ( D28 )
69 Schleswig -Holstein Geest ( D22)

East German plates and Heathland Mecklenburg- Brandenburg plates and hills ( D05 ) 76 Southwestern foothills of the Mecklenburg Lake District
77 North Brandenburgisches plates and hills
78 Luchland

Main units 802 and 803

81 Mittelbrandenburgische plates and lowlands
82 Ostbrandenburgisches heath and lake area

83 Spreewald
84 Lusatian Basin and Heathland

54 Westfälische Bucht ( Münsterländische Tieflandsbucht ) ( D34 )
Niederrheinisches lowlands and Cologne Bay ( D35 ) 55 Lower Rhine Valley
57 Niederrheinisches lowland

Lössbörden

( 44 Upper Lusatia (D14 ) ) Main units 440 and 442-444

45 Erzgebirge
46 Saxon Hill Country (including Leipziger Land )

( 58 Duemmer Geest lowland ) Main unit 582, south of 583

Main unit 628

Central Upland Range

Rhenish Slate Mountains

Order from west to east and internally where appropriate, from north to south )

Eifel ( with Vennvorland ) ( D45 ) 56 Vennvorland
28 West Eifel
27 East Eifel

Lower Saxon and Hessian Mountains

( Order from north to south, in the second place from west to east )

Lower Saxony Bergland ( with Weser and Leine - Bergland ) ( D36 ) 53 Lower Weser Uplands
36 Upper Weser Uplands
37 Weser -Leine Bergland

34 West Hesse Highlands ( D46 )
35 Osthessisches Bergland ( D47 )

Resin

38 resin ( D37 )

Thuringian Basin

47/8 Thuringian basin ( with edge plates ) ( D18)

Eastern Central Upland Range

Thuringian- Franconian Mountain ( with Vogtland) 39 Thuringian- Franconian Mountain ( D48 )
41 Vogtland ( D17 )

43 Saxon- Bohemian Cretaceous sandstone area ( D15)
( 44 Upper Lusatia (D14 ) ) Main unit 441 Lusatian mountains

Cuesta on both sides of the Upper Rhine Graben

Palatinate- Saarland cuesta

Structure from north to south, in the second place from west to east )

Lorraine Triassic - Liassic area 26 Gutland ( Bitburger Land ) ( D49 )
( 18 Pfälzisch - Saarländisches limestone area ( D50) ) Main units 182 and 183

Oberrheinisches lowland

Structure from north to south.

Oberrheinisches lowlands ( D53 ) 23 Rhein -Main Lowlands
22 Northern Upper Rhine Lowland
21 Middle Upper Rhine Lowland
20 Southern Upper Rhine Lowland

Südwestdeutsches Scarps

( Order by cuesta basement / sandstone, limestone, Keuper- Lias and Malm from north to south, from west to east internally.

09 Swabian Alb ( D60 )
08 Franconian Alb ( D61 )

Oberpfälzisch - Obermainisches hills

07 Oberpfälzisch - Obermainisches hills ( D62 )

Foothills of the Alps

Order from north to south, in the second place from west to east )

Northern Alpine Foreland

04 Danube -Iller -Lech - plate ( D64 )
Under Bavarian hill country and Isar -Inn- gravel boards ( D65) 06 Among Bavarian hill country
05 Isar -Inn- gravel boards

Southern foothills of the Alps

Voralpines hill and moorland ( = Southern foothills of the Alps; D66 ) 03 subalpine young moraine
02 * Nagelfluhhöhen and sinks between Lake Constance and Wertach

Alps

The following three groups were still counted in the manual for ( ex-) group 02, German Shares form D67 (BfN ).

Conglomerate-rock mountains of the Appenzell Alps

( about 02 Nagelfluhhöhen and sinks - Alpine foothills ) Molassekämme of St. Gallen -Appenzell (northeast of St. Peter Zell 1170 m; CH)

Gäbris layer combs ( the spear 1950 m, CH)

Front Bregenzerwald

( about 02 Nagelfluhhöhen and sinks - Alpine foothills ) ) 020 pledges ( at Hirschberg 1095 m, D and A)
021.0-5 021.2 with Sulzberg ( 1041 m, A )

960 Allgäu Nagelfluhschichtkämme ( on Rindalphorn 1822 m)

Swabian- Bavarian Alps

( 90 basins and valley floors between the main groups of the Alps ( 900 basins and valley floors in the western part of the Vorarlberg - Allgäu Alps )
( about 902 Inn Valley ) 902.4 basin of Kiefersfelden and Inn- transverse valley

(North of 93 lime - Eastern Alps ) (930 basins and valley floors between the main groups of the Northern Lime - eastern Alps ( partial) )
935 Bavarian- Tyrolean Zwischenkalkalpen (excluding 935.7 )
936 edge chains of the Northern Lime Eastern Alps or Kalkalpenrandketten or Randkalkalpen

( to 941 Ostalgauerland Flyschalpen ) 941.1 mountains surrounding the Wertacher Hornle
941.2 Bayer urbanites head Alpspitz Edelberg Group

( 950 Vorarlberg Allgäu Quintner and Schrattenkalkgewölbe ) 950.0 Gruenten (1738 m)

Austrian Alps

Only the western part of the lying entirely in Austria Group has been processed.

(North of 93 lime - Eastern Alps ) 937 ( with no name )

945 Eastern Salzburg Flyschalpen

Northern high lime Alps ( western part )

The following group was expected in the manual nor the ( ex-) group 01, the German share in Oberstdorf and Garmisch- Partenkirchen include corresponding to D68 (BfN ).

( 90 basins and valley floors between the main groups of the Alps) Rhine Valley
Illtal
900 basins and valley floors in the western part of the Vorarlberg - Allgäu Alps
901 Oberstdorf pool plus side valleys ( Illertal or basins and valley floors in the eastern part of the Vorarlberg - Allgäu Alps )
902 Inn Valley (excluding 902.4 )

(North of 93 lime - Eastern Alps ) (930 basins and valley floors between the main groups of the Northern Lime - eastern Alps ( partial) )
931 Allgäu Alps
932 Lech Valley Alps
933 Inn Valley Riffkalkketten (excluding 333.7 )

940 Vorarlberg and Westallgäuer Flyschalpen
( to 941 Ostalgauerland Flyschalpen ) 941.0 Flyschberge to the Imberger Horn

Alpstein group (up to 2502 m)
Rätikon (up to 2964 m)
950 Vorarlberg Allgäu Quintner and Schrattenkalkgewölbe (excluding 950.0 )

Northern high lime Alps ( eastern part )

The following group was expected in the manual nor the ( ex-) group 01, the German share in Berchtesgaden include corresponding to D68 (BfN ).

The group is larger parts in Austria.

( 90 basins and valley floors between the main groups of the Alps) 909 Salzach Saalachstrasse - edge of the Alps bay

93 Northern lime - eastern Alps 930 basins and valley floors between the main groups of the Northern Lime - eastern Alps ( in parts )

( Inn Valley to 933 Riffkalkketten )

933.7 Kaiser Mountains ( to 2344 m)
934 Salzburg Plateau Limestone Alps

Central Alps

The Central Alps lie entirely outside Germany and have been mapped only to a lesser extent.

91 Eastern Central Alps
92 Schieferalpen the Northern Greywacke Zone

The four individual leaves with mountainous areas have only appeared relatively late. Klaus Hormann suggested in 1978 published Journal of Salzburg, abandoning the previous division into the groups 01 and 02 and to use the number from 90, which were not awarded on the mainland, for a significantly different from those described structure. This proposal was followed by Hansjörg Dongus, the other Alpine sheets ( Tegernsee, Kaufbeuren / Mittenwald, Lindau / Oberstdorf) worked as which of the last leaves in the years 1991 to 1994. The resulting structure of the Alps differs in its structure clearly from the other divisions, since in particular the individual units are no longer simply connected.

Nagelfluh Foothills as the pledges are deviating from the manual, not attributed Dongus of the Alps, but the Alpine foothills. They are incorporated together with the Adelegg and the Rottachberg, in the new group 02 Nagelfluhhöhen and sinks ( between Lake Constance and Wertach or in the foothills of the Alps ). The lying entirely in Switzerland and south abutting Lake Constance Molassekämme of St. Gallen -Appenzell, without number assignment, in deviation from the reference manual, this group ( 02) attributed.

Below the main units (three ) here are exceptionally listed again:

9 Alps 90 basins and valley floors between the main groups of the Alps Rhine Valley
Illtal
900 basins and valley floors in the western part of the Vorarlberg - Allgäu Alps
901 Oberstdorf pool plus side valleys ( Illertal or basins and valley floors in the eastern part of the Vorarlberg - Allgäu Alps )
902 Inn Valley
907 basins and valley floors on the northern edge of the Kitzbühel Alps slate
908 Inzeller pool
909 Salzach Saalachstrasse - edge of the Alps bay

922 Western Kitzbühel Alps slate
923 Eastern Kitzbühel Alps slate
924 Taxenbacher Schieferalpen
925 Radstädter Schieferalpen

930 basins and valley floors between the main groups of the Northern Lime - eastern Alps
931 Allgäu Alps
932 Lech Valley Alps
933 Inn Valley Riffkalkketten
934 Salzburg Plateau Limestone Alps
935 Bavarian- Tyrolean Zwischenkalkalpen
936 edge chains of the Northern Lime Eastern Alps or Kalkalpenrandketten or Randkalkalpen
937 ( with no name )

940 Vorarlberg and Westallgäuer Flyschalpen
941 Ostalgauerland Flyschalpen
942 Trauchgau - Murnau ( Oberammergau ) Flyschalpen
943 Tölz- Tegernsee Chiemgau Flyschalpen
944 Western Salzburg Flyschalpen
945 Eastern Salzburg Flyschalpen

Alpstein group
Rätikon
950 Vorarlberg Allgäu Quintner and Schrattenkalkgewölbe

Gäbris layer combs
960 Allgäu Nagelfluhschichtkämme

595869