Stecknitz-Delvenau-Niederung Nature Reserve

When the glaciers of the last ice age retreated northwards, the meltwater flows through the Delvenau meltwater channel drained south into the Elbe. A watershed formed on the terminal moraine chains near Mölln, from which the Delvenau continued to flow southwards and the Stecknitz to the north into the Trave. For 500 years, these two watercourses with a connecting canal as the Stecknitz-Delvenau Canal were mainly used for the transport of salt from Lüneburg to the Baltic Sea region. When the Elbe-Lübeck Canal was built around 1900, the entire Stecknitz became part of it.There is only a small remnant of the Delvenau. Instead, new bodies of water have been created through the gravel extraction. The moon bird or moon spot (Phalera bucephala) is a moth from the tooth spinner family. Its caterpillars feed on the numerous tree species, including to Salix caprea. The Sal willow (Salix caprea) is an important first fodder plant for insects such as honey bees, wild bees and bumblebees due to its early flowering period from the beginning of March.Despite this deterioration in the water regime, subsidence in the wet meadows and a reduction in biodiversity, this area from Büchen to Lauenburg has been placed under protection, first as an NSG, then the stream itself with 10 m of marginal strips as an FFH area because of its two species of fish that are worthy of protection. the loach and the mud peacock.Source and further detailed information:botanischerverein.de/aktion-und-projekte/gebietsbetreuung-durch-den-botanischen-verein/nsg-stecknitz-delvenau-niederungde.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stecknitz-Delvenau-Niederung

Wonderful, wide meadows, wonderful.

From here you have an excellent view of the Elbe-Lübeck Canal. You can watch the ships passing by at their pleasure at work. Of course, this place is also perfect for a picnic in the countryside.