Regions.
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Photo: Edgard Hörz |
If intent on enjoying a day out in rural Germany, Dusseldorf offers easy access to calm and green countryside within an hours drive out of town. A mild continental climate and typical European vegetation can be indulged in all directions. Nevertheless there are two regions that can be highly recommended for lovers of nature: the Rhine with its diverse sceneries and the Munsterland. Both regions offer some of the most beautiful landscapes in Germany.
Let’s start with the Rhine Valley. This name is a designation for several regions, which lay in direct vicinity to the Rhine. The region is also known as Rhenish Alps, Alpenrhein and it is divided into the sub-areas of Lake Constance, the High Rhine, Upper Rhine, Rhine Gorge und the Lower Rhine. The origin of the Alpenrhein is in Reichenau. Here the streams of the Western and Eastern Rhine merge together and become the Alpenrhein. On a length of 57 km you can see that it is wedged into a canal so that it is possible to conduct agriculture in the valley. Near Fussach the Alpenrhein flows into the Lake Constance. Lake Constance was originated because of earth drawdown and perhaps a meteorite impact. The island in the middle of the Lake Constance called Mainau is known for its terrific spring blossoms. The next region Hochrheintal lays idyllically in the Alps. At the beginning it is a nice stream with many natural curves. But along its run are rising 12 generating plants which are placed next to the canal. 1986 there happened the chemic spall of Sandoz, the worst catastrophe of the whole region. At the Baseler dock starts the passage of the Upper Rhine. In this region the Rhine flows for about 50 kilometres at the French territory before getting back to in its actual riverbed. At the following Rhine Gorge there are the rocks of the Hunsrueck on the left side and the Eifel. On the right side of the river there are the highlands of the Taunus and the Westerwald. The UNESCO has designated the valley of the Mittelrhein as a World Heritage Site. Very well worth seeing is the rock of the figure of the Loreley. The Loreley is the region's landmark and many legends are told about her. The last passage of the Rhine valley is the Lower Rhine with the apposed cities of Cologne, Bonn and Dusseldorf. This region is famous for its charming gently apostatising river flood plains, hills and moorlands. The large meadows that are surrounded by hedges and trees, the landscapes of the riversides and the bordering alluvial forests invite to extensive walks.
The Munsterland lies in the North of Dusseldorf. In the West it borders on the Netherlands. In the Southwest on the Lower Rhine, in the East on the region Ostwestfalen-Lippe and in the North it borders on the Osnabruck Land, the Emsland and Lower Saxony. The landscape is plane with many conservation areas and characterised by agricultural use. Also it is famed for its extensive polished road network for cycling. To get to know the Munsterland at best you must go by bike. For example, you will see the famous horse breeds.
Link: Ruhr Valley...