Grietherorter Altrhein

	Grietherorter Altrhein IUCN Category IV - Habitat / Species Management Area
	Grietherorter Altrhein nature reserve (April 2018)
location	North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany
surface	5.08 km²
Identifier	KLE-003
WDPA ID	163324
Geographical location	51 ° 48 ' N , 6 ° 19' E Coordinates: 51 ° 47 '59 " N , 6 ° 19' 26" E
Setup date	1981
particularities	EU bird sanctuary " Lower Lower Rhine "

The Grietherorter Altrhein nature reserve is located in the area of the city of Rees in the Kleve district in North Rhine-Westphalia .

The area, which consists of two sub-areas, extends between the Dornick district of Emmerich in the north and the Esserden district of Rees in the south, directly along the west-flowing Rhine .

meaning

For Rees, a 508.01 hectare area has been designated as a nature reserve under the identification number KLE-003 since 1981 . The area was put under protection due to the original Auenreliefs with autochthonous brown alluvial soils and wetlands gleys over glacially layered gravels and sands and loamy-clayey flood deposits of the Rhine.

The nature reserve lies between the Rhine and Rees bees . The first protection designation took place in 1985, a further sub-area was added in 1996. It is in direct contact with the nature reserve Bienener Altrhein, Millinger Meer and Hurler Meer . Together they form a unique oxbow lake complex that is still largely subject to the natural flooding dynamics of the Rhine. Today's area includes the Old Rhine itself, the adjacent agricultural areas and the partially filled relict excavation Reeserward in the south of the area. The agricultural areas are used almost exclusively as grassland; more than half of it is extensively farmed. Occasional wildflowers still grow here, such as the real caraway , Wiesen-Pippau or the Wiesen-Bocksbart .

The heart of the nature reserve is the Grietherorter Altrhein and the relict excavation Reeserward. Both bodies of water are particularly important for the fish fauna due to their connection to the Rhine. The vegetation is characterized by pioneer and reed communities, alluvial forest areas, mud flats and extensive grassland areas. A typical plant is the horse mint . The bird world of the Grietherorter Altrhein is very species-rich. In 2016 alone, 75 breeding bird species were recorded, including the redshank , which is threatened with extinction in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the endangered species common redstart , curlew , partridge and meadow pipit . Here, too, the Reeserward relic excavation plays an outstanding role, as the extensive flat banks represent an ideal breeding and feeding space for plover species such as redshanks or lapwing .

Settlements in the area are Grietherbusch , Grietherort and Grieth .