Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park

In the forest 5 18375 Born Darß (038234) 5020

The National Boddenlandscape, with an area of 786 km ² officially the largest national park of the Federal State of Mecklenburg- Vorpommern and the third largest in Germany. It is located northeast of Rostock on the Baltic Sea and Bodden coast of Western Pomerania and was recognized as part of the National Park program of the German Democratic Republic on October 1, 1990.

The national park offers a abswechslungsreiche lagoon landscape with rich flora and fauna.

The composition of the National Park

Approximately half of the area of the national park is open Baltic Sea, more than another quarter comprising parts of the Bodden waters of Darß- Zingster Bodden chain and the West Rügen Bodden. Protected shallow water areas are thus ( in the Baltic Sea is oriented the National Park boundary at the ten-meter depth line ) with a very rich flora and fauna. Essential to the variety, the different salinities of brackish water habitats Baltic Sea and Bodden contribute. Thus, the Baltic herring regularly visits the shallow bays to spawn here.

The land included in the National Park include parts of Darß and Zingst peninsula and most of the island Hiddensee. In addition, a narrow strip adjacent to the lagoon of the island of Rügen is in the National Park. Pine and beech forests covered large parts of the land surface, such as in Darßwald. In unforested areas of coastal flooding Moore occur.

The aim of the National Parks

A major goal of the National Park Boddenlandscape is the preservation of the natural dynamics of the landscape, which manifests itself in steady coastal changes, for example. The erosion of cliffs are large, still continue growing Anlandungsgebiete, about Darßer on site or over the Bessin ( Hiddensee ), opposite.

The National Boddenlandscape is one of the most important tourist destinations of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. He is famous, for example, as autumnal resting place of cranes.

The wind Watt - special feature of the lagoon area

Unlike in the Wadden Sea the North Sea do not determine high and low tide events in the shallow water areas of the National Park. However, there will be wind-related water level fluctuations (in extreme cases ) several meters. Some particularly flat areas regularly fall dry at low water. These mud flats offer a large supply of food for the passing in autumn migratory birds. For the cranes crossing the Vorpommern Lagoon Area on their train, bordering on the mud flats are shallow water areas during the migration period one of the main beds in Western Europe. Notable wind flats there are north of Darßer place south of the Bessins and between yells, Bock and Pramort.

Wildlife

Regular guests of the national parks are gray seals, which do not reproduce in the area, however. Also seals can be observed. Only occasionally occur porpoises. The national park is also home to the otter. On the land deer, wild boar and red deer are present, especially in the field of Zingst it also applies to deer. On Hiddensee there is also a small stock of mouflon. In addition, there are numerous small mammals, such as the dwarf mouse. Also, various bats, as Nathusius bat, common pipistrelle and evening sailors can be observed.

The lagoons are an important wintering area for migratory birds and moreover form an important nesting area for many birds. A total of 163 species of birds breed in the National Park, of which 67 are on the Red List of Germany. A great attraction for visitors are the large flocks of about 60,000 gray cranes that make station in the area from September to November. The lagoon is home to 48 species of fish. Often lead, roach, European eel, three-spined and nine-spined stickleback, perch, walleye and pike.

Problems and shortcomings of the National Park

The National Park is particularly under threat from water pollution. Contributes to this particular nutrient inflow in the intensive farming with high fertilizer applications in the national park environment. The spacious drainage of peatlands also results in strong nutrient deposits in the bay. Such dewatering takes place even in the national park.

The underwater vegetation has changed dramatically through the nutrient inputs; many of the formerly widespread in large number of species stoneworts have disappeared entirely or largely. Also, the osprey is no longer observed. The visual depth of the lagoon has become so low that the food is no longer sufficient as a shock diver hunting eagle.

The intensive tourism on parts of the land and water areas of the national park as well as a pronounced hunting use are also problematic.

Repeats the management of forests has been criticized. It does not correspond in many areas of the criteria to be met by a national park. Too high a wild animal stocking with trophy hunting and wild without biological reasons and hardwood felling and planting of non-native woody plants were also criticized. The FSC label was deprived of the National Park for these reasons.

Pictures

Steep bank on the island Hiddensee

View from Barhöft over Bock and yells to Hiddensee ( Standort54.43478055555613.022361111111 )

Pramort