Glücksburger Heide, Protected area in Jessen, Germany
The Glücksburger Heide is a protected nature reserve featuring sandy forest and heathland stretching across several districts in Saxony-Anhalt. The terrain displays a variety of habitats including open heath, pine woodlands, and wetland areas.
The area served as a German Luftwaffe bombing range starting in 1936 and later as a Soviet military training ground until 1990. Decades of military use transformed the landscape before the site gained protection.
The heathland and pine forests draw visitors who experience open spaces shaped by nature and human history. Local connections to the landscape reflect interest in both ecological recovery and learning from the past.
The reserve can be accessed from two main entrances at the western and eastern boundaries, with an extensive network of cycling and hiking trails throughout. Nearby, the Heide Museum in Arnsdorf offers useful context about the landscape and its features.
The reserve hosts about 127 bird species with roughly 98 breeding species, including rare birds like the Nightjar and Eurasian Skylark. This diversity thrives thanks to the varied habitat structure created by its former military use.
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