Lieberose Desert

Lieberose Desert is a nature reserve in Brandenburg comprising sandy terrain with sparse plant coverage spanning roughly five square kilometers. Pine forests surround this largely open landscape and shape the character of the eastern region.

A major forest fire in 1942 created the sandy open areas visible today. After the war, Soviet forces used the land for decades of military exercises until abandoning the site in 1994.

The name refers to the sandy, largely barren expanse that resembles a desert landscape. Today, conservation groups use the land to protect rare plant species that thrive in sandy soil.

Visitors must stay on marked paths due to unexploded ordnance remaining in some areas from past military activity. The site is best explored on foot, and sturdy footwear is recommended since the sandy ground can be uneven and occasionally slippery.

The sandy soil experiences extreme temperature swings between day and night, which allows specialized plants like silver hair grass and marram grass to flourish. These adaptations enable rare species to thrive in conditions where they would not survive elsewhere.