Hülser Bruch, Nature reserve in Krefeld, Germany
Hülser Bruch is a nature reserve spanning roughly 430 hectares with mixed forests, meadows, wetlands, and the Hülser Berg elevation rising 63 meters above the surrounding land. Several marked paths traverse the reserve, making the different zones accessible to visitors.
The landscape formed during the Saale Ice Age roughly 140,000 years ago when glaciers deposited terminal moraines that shaped the present terrain. These glacial deposits created the foundation for today's wet and marshy areas.
The name Bruch refers to this area's past as wetland, where people once gathered firewood and straw because the clay soil was unsuitable for farming.
The area can be explored on foot, by bicycle, or on horseback, with several marked paths suited to different abilities. An annual cross-country race called Seidenraupen-Cross takes place in October and occasionally shapes activity in the area.
The reserve contains wet meadows representing remnants of former flat moors that provide habitat for black woodpeckers, orioles, tawny owls, and many amphibian species. These particular wet habitats are uncommon for the region and attract nature watchers.
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