Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve

Information center

Location of the biosphere reserve

The Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve is part of the Elbe River Landscape Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO in 1997 .

It is located in the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt and extends along the Elbe between Lutherstadt Wittenberg in the east via Dessau-Roßlau and Magdeburg to Seehausen in the north and the Mulde . The biosphere reserve includes the Elbe meadows as a unique meadow landscape biotope and offers protection to many animals and plants that are threatened with extinction. In 2005, Frank Dziock discovered a new species of insect, Silvia's tree sap hover fly (Brachyopa silviae) . This largely natural river landscape is one of the focal points for tourism in Saxony-Anhalt, especially for bicycle tourism.

As early as 1979 the " Steckby-Lödderitzer Forest " was designated by UNESCO as one of two biosphere reserves in the GDR. The area was previously placed under protection as a nature reserve with 3500 hectares and was expanded in 1988 to include additional areas near Dessau and Wörlitz . In 1990, as part of the GDR's national park program, the "Middle Elbe" biosphere reserve was created on an area of around 43,000 hectares . The part of the transnational biosphere reserve "Elbe River Landscape" recognized by UNESCO in 1997, located in Saxony-Anhalt, was declared the Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve on March 20, 2006. It has a size of 125,743 ha and includes the "Middle Elbe" biosphere reserve, which is still legally valid.

The central administrative seat is the little Kapenschlösschen between Dessau and Oranienbaum . The Auenhaus information center is located at the entrance to the federal road 107 and the Haus der Rivers information center in Havelberg .

Biodiversity (among others)
- over 1000 plant species
- 250 species of birds
- 130 species of bees
- 50 species of dragonflies
- Reference point for beaver protection (Elbe beaver)