オルスベルクの天然記念物・トップ20

The up to 90 meters high Bruchhauser stones are a striking landscape symbol of this region and a landscape protection area. All are under strict nature protection, there is only one way up on the field stone with its summit cross.

The largest of the mountain heaths in north-west Germany, which are rare in Europe, is in Niedersfeld. The wide, tree-poor landscape turns into a pink carpet of heather flowers in late summer. The protected area is rightly one of the natural treasures of South Westphalia.

"... The Neue Hagen near Niedersfeld is the largest high heathland in North Rhine-Westphalia. The extraordinary landscape exerts a very special fascination. Heath and high moor are home to rare flora and fauna. The 800 meter high area is on the border to Hesse on the northern slope of the Clemensberg and has been a nature reserve since 1955. Heath sheep graze there, act as "biological lawn mowers" and thus ensure the preservation of the heath. Birds such as the cuckoo, wood grouse and nightjar build their nests. Hobby biologists can even discover arctic and alpine plants in the Neuer Hagen nature reserve. ..." https://www.winterberg.de/poi/nreservation-neuer-hagen/

"... Sheep love to eat fresh greens. That's why you can let them eat wherever there should only be short stalks and low plants in the end. Everything that is young and fresh is eaten. The gentle animals are suitable are therefore ideal as biological lawnmowers. What does that have to do with biodiversity? Meager meadows and heaths are particularly valuable habitats, because many rare animal and plant species live here. But if such landscapes are not maintained regularly, then bushes and trees will grow - and in a few decades there will be nothing left of the meadows and heaths. This is exactly what the sheep do: they eat the young shoots of the bushes and trees and thus prevent them from growing. ..." https://naturdetektive.bfn.de/lexikon/tiere/saeugetiere/schafe-hueter-der-biologische-vielfalt.html

"... The New Hagen near Niedersfeld is the largest high heath in North Rhine-Westphalia. The extraordinary landscape has its own fascination. Heath and raised bog are home to rare flora and fauna. The 800 meter high area is on the border with Hesse on the northern slope of the Clemensberg and has been under nature protection since 1955. Heidschnucken graze there, act as "biological lawnmowers" and thus ensure the preservation of the heather. Birds like cuckoo, capercaillie and goat milkers build their nests. Hobby biologists can even discover arctic and alpine plants in the Neuer Hagen nature reserve. ... " https://www.winterberg.de/poi/naturschutzgebiet-neuer-hagen/

Beautiful Winterberg Hochheide to hike through for young and old. 🥾🥾

Especially when the heather is in bloom, the Bald Asten is a sea of flowers. There is also a hotel up here. At 841.9 meters, it is the third highest mountain in the Rothaargebirge after the Langenberg and Hegekopf and the second highest mountain in North Rhine-Westphalia after the Langenberg. The Lenne and Odeborn springs and a high heath are located on the mountain.

You don't expect such a great heather landscape here. There are also many benches to linger and enjoy.