Neuenburger Urwald, Protected forest reserve in Friesland, Germany
The Neuenburger Urwald is a protected forest in the Friesland lowlands with old oaks that sometimes exceed 600 years in age, growing in dense woodland alongside other tree species. The area covers around 48 hectares and displays several forest types side by side: beech-oak forests, wood millet beech forests, and oak-hornbeam forests.
The forest was removed from commercial use around 1850 and gained natural monument status in 1880. This shift marked the end of intensive woodland management and the transition to a protected area.
The forest is home to rare bird species and shows different patterns of light and shadow as seasons change among the old trees. Visitors can experience the variety of forest types directly while walking, from dense beech to oak woodland.
The area is accessible through two entrances with parking areas and has about 15 kilometers of marked walking trails running through the forest. A hunting lodge serves as a rest point and landmark for orientation along the way.
The ground beneath consists of clay layers from the Elster glacial period reaching depths of up to 30 meters, known in Northern Germany as Lauenburg clay. This ancient geological layer shapes the water flow and thus the plant life in the forest.
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