Dondorfer See, Nature reserve in Hennef, Germany.
Dondorfer See is a nature reserve featuring water bodies surrounded by dense reed beds and willow-lined shores. Black alder trees dominate the landscape, giving the area a distinctive wooded wetland character.
The area began as a sand extraction site beside the Sieg River before being designated as a protected reserve in 1991. The transformation was purposefully designed to restore the region's water ecosystems.
The reserve attracts bird watchers and nature enthusiasts who visit regularly to observe wildlife. It demonstrates how a former industrial site can transform into a vital habitat for animals and plants.
A circular walking trail of about 3 kilometers starts from the Dondorf area with several observation points along the route. The path is accessible and suitable for leisurely walks at different times of day.
The lake contains artificial nesting platforms that support eight breeding colonies of river terns. This is particularly valuable since the entire region has only about 130 breeding sites of this kind.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.