Schwanheimer Düne, Protected sand dune area in Frankfurt, Germany
Schwanheimer Dune is a nature reserve featuring open sand surfaces, pine forests, and wetland areas. The site contains several shallow water bodies that formed from gravel extraction and now serve as critical habitats for plants and wildlife.
The landscape formed thousands of years ago through wind erosion from a nearby river. In the late 1800s, large portions were altered by gravel mining before protection status was eventually granted.
The name refers to the sand landscape that stands out visibly from the surrounding forest region. Visitors come here to experience this rare heathland type, which has become scarce in the area.
A wooden walkway guides visitors through the sensitive terrain and protects rare plants from trampling. The path is well marked and offers several vantage points to observe the different habitats.
Rare plant species such as silver grass and sand carnations grow here alongside bird species rarely found elsewhere in the region. This combination of soil conditions and habitat creates an environment found almost nowhere else in this form.
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