Osterwald Forest (Zingst)

Experience and enjoy pure nature.

This forest is steeped in history. Here to see what man can do to nature.

With 800 hectares, the Osterwald is the largest contiguous forest area on the Zingst peninsula. It lies between the Straminke, a separate arm of the sea east of the town of Zingst, in the west and the Sundian meadows in the east. In the north the Osterwald borders on the dikes of the Baltic Sea and in the south on the dikes of the Grabow. It got its name from its location east of the town of Zingst. The forest area was created a few thousand years ago by landings and is only just above sea level. Due to its location, it has mostly boggy forest floors. The Osterwald is therefore the only real root rain moor in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The bog was partially dried out by human intervention.

The Osterwald used to be the border region for the city of Stralsund (Sundische Wiesen), the city and the office of Barth. After border disputes, a border trench was dug through the Osterwald and provided with boundary stones that are still visible today. One of them marks the so-called triangle.

In the Osterwald the most diverse plants grow through the alternation of dunes (called reefs) and humid depressions (rows). Birch, English oak, beech and pine are at home here. Alder, spruce and fir trees have made their home here through planting.

The six sequoias planted in 1955 are a specialty. A younger, seventh tree completes the sequoia range.