The Bavarian Forest is a wooded, low-mountain region in Bavaria, Germany, that stretches about 100 kilometres along the Czech border. The area is known for its mining towns, glassmaking, and tourist attractions, including climatic resorts, walking trails, and mountain biking. The forest is divided into two sections by a sharp quartz ridge called the Pfahl, with the Vorderer Forest to the southwest and the Hinterer Forest to the northeast. The Bavarian Forest National Park, established in 1970, covers an area of 24,250 hectares and is home to rare species such as the lynx, wildcat, beaver, and Eurasian otter. Together with the neighbouring Czech Bohemian Forest, it forms the largest contiguous area of forest in Central Europe.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Location | Southeastern Germany, on the border with the Czech Republic |
Province | Most of the forest lies within Lower Bavaria, but the northern part lies within Upper Palatinate |
Length | About 100 kilometres |
Height | 1,456m (Großer Arber) is the highest mountain in the region |
Main River | The Regen |
National Park | Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany's first national park, founded on 7 October 1970 |
Nature Park | Bavarian Forest Nature Park, established in 1967 |
Area | 24,250 hectares |
Annual Visitors | 700,000 |
What You'll Learn
- The Bavarian Forest is in Germany, on the border with the Czech Republic
- It is a wooded, low-mountain region in the state of Bavaria
- The forest is divided into two sections: Vorderer Forest and Hinterer Forest
- The Bavarian Forest National Park was founded in 1970 and is Germany's first
- The forest is home to rare species, including the lynx, bear, and wolf
The Bavarian Forest is in Germany, on the border with the Czech Republic
The Bavarian Forest is a wooded, low-mountain region in Bavaria, Germany, that stretches about 100 kilometres along the Czech border. It is part of the Bohemian Forest, which continues into the Czech Republic and is also known as the Šumava or Bohemian Forest National Park. The Bavarian Forest is located in the province of Lower Bavaria, with its northern part in Upper Palatinate, and it reaches the border with Upper Austria in the south.
The area along the Czech border has been designated as the Bavarian Forest National Park, which was established in 1970 as Germany's first national park. The park covers an area of about 240 square kilometres, with over 700,000 visitors per year, making it an important economic factor in the region. The park is known for its dense forest, primarily consisting of spruce trees, European silver fir, and European beech. It features three key peaks: GroBer Rachel, Lusen, and GroBer Falkenstein.
In addition to the national park, there are also two nature reserves in the Bavarian Forest: the Naturpark Bayerischer Wald and the Naturpark Oberer Bayerischer Wald. These reserves surround the national park and offer a variety of walking trails and bike routes for visitors. The region is also known for its mining towns and glassmaking industry.
The Bavarian Forest has a severe and wet climate, and the highlands are covered with coniferous forests, mainly spruce. The region's main industries include lumbering, woodworking, and glass grinding. Tourism is also a significant aspect of the local economy, with many visitors attracted to the Bavarian Forest National Park and the area's scenic beauty.
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It is a wooded, low-mountain region in the state of Bavaria
The Bavarian Forest is a wooded, low-mountain region in the state of Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the south-east of Germany, along the country's border with the Czech Republic. The forest runs alongside the Czech Bohemian Forest, which is also known as the Šumava.
The forest is approximately 100 kilometres long and is situated between the Danube River and the Bohemian Forest. Most of the forest is in the province of Lower Bavaria, but the northern part lies within Upper Palatinate. In the south, the forest reaches the Austrian border.
The Bavarian Forest is divided into two sections by a sharp quartz ridge known as the Pfahl. The ridge runs roughly along the Regen valley and ranges from 20 to 30 metres in height. The Vorderer Forest, or Danube Hills, is a rolling plateau situated to the southwest between the Danube and the Pfahl. This area rarely rises more than 1,000 metres above sea level and is characterised by meadows, isolated farmsteads, and small hamlets. The Hinterer Forest, which lies to the northeast of the Pfahl, is a higher and almost entirely forested mountain region. Human settlement is largely confined to a few longitudinal valleys. The Hinterer Forest includes the Bavarian Forest's highest peaks, such as the Großer Arber, which rises to 1,456 metres, and the Rachel, Lusen, Dreisesselberg, and Großer Falkenstein.
The Bavarian Forest is known for its ancient woodlands, mining towns, glassmaking, and, more recently, its tourist attractions. The region has a severe and wet climate, and its small valley farms produce modest yields of rye, oats, and potatoes. The forest is predominantly coniferous, with spruce as the main species at higher altitudes and a mix of spruce, silver fir, and beech at lower levels.
The Bavarian Forest National Park was founded on 7 October 1970 and was Germany's first national park. Covering an area of 242.2 square kilometres, the park combines with the neighbouring Czech Sumava National Park to form the largest protected contiguous forest in Central Europe. The park is known for its highland forests, mixed mountain forests, and water meadow spruce woods in the valleys. The park features three key peaks: GroBer Rachel, the highest at 1,453 metres, Lusen at 1,373 metres, and GroBer Falkenstein at 1,305 metres. The park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including lynx, bears, wolves, deer, European bison, beavers, and otters.
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The forest is divided into two sections: Vorderer Forest and Hinterer Forest
The Bavarian Forest is divided into two sections: the Vorderer Forest and the Hinterer Forest. This division is made along a sharp quartz ridge known as the Pfahl, which runs roughly along the Regen valley and ranges from 65 to 100 feet (20 to 30 m) in height.
The Vorderer Forest, also known as the Danube Hills, is a rolling plateau situated to the southwest between the Danube and the Pfahl. It seldom rises more than 3,300 feet (1,000 m) above sea level. The landscape is dominated by meadows, isolated farmsteads, and small hamlets. Only the higher and steeper slopes remain wooded.
The Hinterer Forest, or "High Forest", is located northeast of the Pfahl. It is a higher and almost continuously forested mountain region, with human settlement confined to a few longitudinal valleys. The Hinterer Forest includes some of the highest peaks in the Bavarian Forest, such as the Grosser Arber (4,777 feet or 1,456 m), the Rachel, the Lusen, the Dreisesselberg, and the Grosser Falkenstein.
The Vorderer Forest and the Hinterer Forest differ not only in terms of elevation and forest cover but also in terms of human activities. The Vorderer Forest, with its rolling hills and meadows, is more suitable for agriculture and is home to small hamlets and farmsteads. In contrast, the Hinterer Forest, with its higher and more continuous forest cover, has limited human settlement and is known for its ski resorts.
The division of the Bavarian Forest into the Vorderer and Hinterer Forest reflects both the geographical characteristics and the human activities in the region. The Vorderer Forest, with its lower elevation and more open landscape, is more suitable for agriculture and small settlements. On the other hand, the Hinterer Forest, with its higher elevation and dense forest cover, provides opportunities for skiing and other outdoor activities while also supporting the forestry industry.
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The Bavarian Forest National Park was founded in 1970 and is Germany's first
The Bavarian Forest National Park, known locally as Bayerischer Wald, is located on the southeastern border of Germany, running alongside the Czech Republic. The park was founded on 7 October 1970 as Germany's first national park. It covers an area of 93.50 square miles (242.2 sq km) and combines with the Czech Republic's Sumava National Park to create the largest protected contiguous forest in Central Europe.
The Bavarian Forest on the German side is comprised of spruce trees, European silver fir, European beech, Norway spruce, mixed mountain forest, highland forests, and water meadow spruce woods. The landscape consists of short granite and gneiss hills covered and surrounded by dense forest. The park features three key peaks: GroBer Rachel, the highest with a summit of 4,767 feet (1,453 m); Lusen at 4,505 feet (1,373 m); and GroBer Falkenstein at 4,281 feet (1,305 m).
The Bavarian Forest National Park is an important economic factor in the economically underdeveloped region of the Bavarian Forest, attracting over 700,000 visitors per year. The park offers exciting guided tours through the wild forest, as well as top-class cultural events, and has over 500 kilometres of marked hiking, cycling, and snowshoeing trails.
The park is home to many rare mammals, including the Eurasian lynx, wildcat, beaver, Eurasian otter, western barbastelle, Bechstein's bat, and the greater mouse-eared bat. Red deer are also present, with two-thirds of the population overwintering in an enclosure to prevent excessive grazing. Even moose have been recorded in the park, from a population in the Lipno Reservoir in the Czech Republic. The park also features ecologically valuable raised bogs with bog lakes and former high meadows, known as Schachten, which spread even further on the Czech side of the border in the Bohemian Forest.
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The forest is home to rare species, including the lynx, bear, and wolf
The Bavarian Forest is a wooded, low-mountain region in Bavaria, Germany, that runs along the Czech border. It is part of the Bohemian Forest, the highest of the truncated highlands of the Bohemian Massif. The area is known for its glassblowing in the area of Zwiesel and is also known in the field of geoscience due to the presence of the fundamental station of Wettzell at Bad Kötzting.
The forest is home to a variety of rare species, including the Eurasian lynx, bears, and wolves. The lynx, the largest cat on the continent, disappeared from the Bavarian Forest in the 19th century due to human persecution. However, through a release project by Czech colleagues in the 1980s, the species was reintroduced to the region. The lynx's habitat consists of large, unspoiled, and unfragmented forest areas, which provide sufficient cover for hunting and a large supply of prey.
Wolves, once extinct, have also returned to the Bavarian Forest. They are now a strictly protected species under the Federal Nature Conservation Act. In 2016, a pair of wolves was discovered in the Bavarian Forest National Park.
Brown bears have also been spotted in the Bavarian Forest, with the last sighting in the wild reported in 2019, when a bear emigrated from Italy to Bavaria. While they are not found in the wild within the Bavarian Forest National Park, there is potential habitat for bears in Germany, and scientists believe there are good chances for their permanent return, at least in the German Alps.
In addition to these large predators, the Bavarian Forest is also home to other rare species, including wildcats, otters, and beavers. The region's characteristic bird is the capercaillie, an endangered species that is quite rare in Germany.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bavarian Forest is in southeastern Germany, on the country's border with the Czech Republic.
The Bavarian Forest is a wooded, low-mountain region in the German state of Bavaria. It is about 100km long and runs alongside the Czech border.
Yes, the Bavarian Forest National Park was established in 1970 as Germany's first national park. It covers 93.50 sq mi (242.2 sq km or 24,250 hectares) and is the largest protected forest in Central Europe.
The Bavarian Forest is home to many rare species, including lynx, wildcats, beavers, Eurasian otters, western barbastelle, and several types of bats. Red deer, wolves, and even moose have also been recorded in the park.
The Bavarian Forest is a popular destination for outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, cycling, and mountain biking. There are also several museums and historical sites in the area, as well as ski resorts.