Lauwersmeer National Park

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Lauwersmeer National Park
Lauwersmeer National Park (Netherlands)
Paris plan pointer b jms.svg
Coordinates: 53 ° 20 '24 "  N , 6 ° 10' 48"  E
Location: Friesland , Groningen , Netherlands
Next city: Lauwersoog
Surface: approx. 9000 ha
Founding: November 12, 2003
Address: De Rug 1
NL-9976 VT Lauwersoog
National park map
National park map
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The Lauwersmeer National Park is located in the north of the Netherlands , on the border of the provinces of Groningen and Friesland . The area was declared a national park on November 12, 2003 and covers 9,000 hectares, of which around 6,000 hectares are under the State Forestry Administration of the Netherlands ( Staatsbosbeheer ). The lake is around 2000 hectares.

geography

The Lauwerszee , a bay named after the river Lauwers , used to be open to the Wadden Sea . After the storm surge of 1953, a dam was planned for fear of flooding and was completed in 1969. The bay became a closed lake, now called the Lauwersmeer , and the higher seabed (the former tidal flats) was drained. The newly reclaimed land was completely left to its own devices in the first few years, so that the flora and fauna typical of the area could establish themselves.

The area has a predominantly open nature, but there is near Lauwersoog a forest named Ballastplaatbos and in the south at Dokkumer Nieuwe Zijlen the forest area Zomerhuisbos . Larger areas of the park are closed to the public, while the lake in its deeper areas is also open to boats. The shallow lake and wetlands may not be entered for reasons of landscape protection.

Flora and fauna

Various orchids and the swamp heart leaf grow in the park area , and wild roses can also be found. The open areas are protected from overgrowth by grazing with Scottish Highland cattle . In addition to the cattle, a population of Konik horses was also settled in the national park. The national park is an important resting place for migratory birds on their migrations. In addition to frequently occurring water birds such as geese and ducks , rarer species such as the kingfisher or birds of prey such as sea ​​eagles and peregrine falcons can also be observed. Even flamingos have been spotted in the park.

freetime and recreation

In addition to numerous hiking and biking trails, the publicly accessible areas of the park are known for their water sports activities. Among other things, sailing , canoeing , surfing and kite surfing are possible here.

In October 2016, the national park was the second place in the Netherlands to receive the Dark Sky Park rating . This is awarded to places where there is no light pollution and where the starry sky can be observed particularly well at night . In the Lauwersmeer area, it is even possible to watch the Northern Lights on some nights .

gallery

  • The 13 km long final dike

  • View over the lake

  • Bird watching shelter

  • Wild rose in the national park

  • Highland cattle in the Lauwersmeer area

See also

Web links

Commons : National Park Lauwersmeer  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Lauwersmeer National Park . In: waddenland.groningen.nl . ( groningen.nl [accessed June 12, 2018]).
  2. ↑ Super User: Lauwersmeer. Accessed June 12, 2018 (German).
  3. ^ Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, NetherlandsNet: NetherlandsNet - Environment - The national parks of the Netherlands. Retrieved June 12, 2018 .
  4. ↑ Natuur & Landschap - National Park Lauwersmeer . In: Nationaal Park Lauwersmeer . ( np-lauwersmeer.nl [accessed June 12, 2018]).
  5. ↑ Flamingo's spot in Lauwersmeergebied . In: RTV Noord . ( rtvnoord.nl [accessed June 12, 2018]).
  6. ↑ Lauwersmeer . In: Visit Groningen . ( groningen.nl [accessed June 12, 2018]).
  7. ↑ Lauwersmeer National Park now an official Dark Sky Park . In: Visit Groningen . October 7, 2016 ( groningen.nl [accessed June 12, 2018]).