Lowland waterbody at the former summer dike, Urdenbacher Kämpe

The former summer dike used to ensure that the agricultural fields were not flooded during floods. However, in 2014, the dike was opened in two places as part of the “Living Rivers” project, so that the Urdenbach Old Rhine could reclaim nature. And this is very successful, as the breathtaking meadow landscape to the left and right of the well-developed hiking trail that now runs over the dike proves.

You will be accompanied here by a never-ending symphony of bird songs: swans, rust geese, gray herons, orioles and kingfishers have found a home in the Urdenbacher Kämpe and can be seen or heard from the various viewing points along the route. You can quickly forget that just a few kilometers away the center of North Rhine-Westphalia's second largest city with the longest bar in the world is waiting for visitors!

The fact that you can hike in the middle of nature in the Kämpe is thanks to a flood: the Rhine used to flow towards the Netherlands at this point. However, after a flood in 1374, it shifted its bed a few kilometers to the west, leaving only a small trickle that has marked the border of the Urdenbacher Kämpe ever since.

Frogs are not only fascinating animals, but also important members of their ecosystems. They feed mainly on insects and other small invertebrates, helping to regulate pests. At the same time, they themselves serve as a food source for many predators, and their life cycle as an egg, tadpole and adult frog contributes to nutrient cycling in wetlands.Unfortunately, many frogs are now threatened or on the verge of extinction, mainly due to habitat loss, pollution and diseases such as the dreaded chytrid fungus disease. Protecting and conserving frog habitats is therefore crucial to the survival of these fascinating animals and maintaining ecological balance.

Frogs are fascinating amphibians found in a variety of habitats around the world. They are known for their jumping abilities and their distinctive croaking during mating season.These little creatures have an impressive variety of colors and patterns that help them camouflage themselves in their environment and ward off potential predators. Many species of frogs also have the ability to change their skin color to adapt to different temperatures and lighting conditions.