Hahnenmoor, Nature reserve near Herzlake, Germany
Hahnenmoor is a protected wetland reserve that covers 620 hectares across three municipalities: Berge, Dohren, and Herzlake in Lower Saxony. The landscape consists of open water, grassland, and patches of thin forest, with several walking paths running through it.
The area was heavily used for peat extraction, with operations running from the late 1950s until 1988, making it one of the most extensively worked bog areas in Lower Saxony. Once peat mining ended, the land was placed under protection to allow the moorland to recover.
The observation platform along the Hünenweg hiking trail shows how people today use and value this moorland landscape. From here, visitors can look out over the open water and see the typical plants that grow in such terrain.
Visitors can follow marked walking paths that run through the reserve while sensitive ecological areas remain protected. It is best to visit during drier periods and avoid very wet zones to protect both the environment and your own footing.
Dead birch trees jut out from the water across much of the reserve, creating distinctive visual effects that shift with the seasons. In spring, the white blooming cotton grass deserves attention, appearing like snow over the moorland.
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