Kahler Pön Nature Reserve (Usseln)

South of Usseln is the Kahle Pön with its high heath and the summit cross. From here you have a wonderful view of Usseln and the surrounding landscape. If you're lucky, the heather is in bloom or the blueberries are ripe.

This beautiful heathland should be seen

At the end of the 19th century, the ridges of the Sauerland were widely occupied by mountain heirs. On the plateau of the Bald Pön, in borderland between Upland (Hesse) and Medebacher Bucht (NRW) and thus in the headwaters of the Diemel is one of the few remaining high heaths of the Rhenish Slate Mountains. The montane berry shrub heaths of the Rothaargebirge belong to the most important remnants of this today highly endangered vegetation type in Central Europe.

In both states they are designated as FFH areas in the European protected area network Natura 2000. It is intended to preserve internationally important deposits of flora, fauna and habitats for future generations.

In addition to heathland areas, the Westphalian FFH area Kahle Pön also includes valuable meadows for mountain pastures, lowland pastures and beech forest. With four other FFH areas, it is one of the core areas of the European bird sanctuary Medebacher Bucht. The LIFE project "Medebacher Bucht - building block for Natura 2000" strives for ecological improvements in these FFH areas.