Sahara Lommel, Nature reserve in Lommel, Belgium.
Sahara Lommel is a 193-hectare nature reserve featuring white sand dunes, clear blue lakes, and pine forests in a landscape that resembles a desert. The sandy terrain and heather patches create an unusual setting that differs greatly from the typical Belgian countryside.
The site was once home to a zinc and sulphuric acid factory established in 1904 that severely damaged local plant life. After the factory closed, the area gradually transformed into a desert-like landscape dominated by sand dunes.
The nature reserve serves as a filming location for Flemish productions and demonstrates how an industrial site has been successfully transformed into natural landscape. Visitors can experience today how nature has reclaimed what was once an abandoned factory ground.
The area is accessible through multiple hiking trails, including a 12-kilometer red route and a roughly 6-kilometer orange trail starting from Parking De Soeverein. The sandy terrain and well-marked paths make it easy for visitors to explore the landscape independently.
A 30-meter observation tower offers views over Belgium's only desert landscape, which also records the country's highest temperatures. This location allows visitors to experience a subtropical climate in a place better known for cooler weather.
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