Gipskarstlandschaft Bad Sachsa und Walkenried, former nature reserve in Lower Saxony, Germany
The Gipskarstlandschaft Bad Sachsa and Walkenried is a protected natural area in the Harz region characterized by gypsum rock formations, beech forests, caves, and sinkhole structures. The terrain displays rough rocky outcrops, dense woodlands, small gorges, and wet meadows with ponds that together create a varied natural landscape.
The area was designated as a nature reserve in 2021 to protect landscapes shaped over thousands of years by water dissolving gypsum rock. Former gypsum extraction in quarries such as Lohof left visible marks, but since mining ceased, nature has reclaimed these sites.
The area's name reflects the gypsum karst formation that has shaped human activity for centuries. Visitors and locals now use this land as a space for walks and to observe the natural processes that continuously reshape the landscape.
Visits are possible year-round, with paths easiest to navigate during spring and summer months. Various marked trails and nature study paths like the Schwiebachtal educational route cater to different levels of walking experience.
The area contains underground waterways that disappear into gypsum cliffs and resurface elsewhere, a rare occurrence that walkers can notice when following river courses. Meanwhile, abandoned quarries like Lohof now unexpectedly host rare plants and animals thriving among exposed rock walls.
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