Staatsforst Rheurdt/Littard, nature reserve in Rheurdt, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Staatsforst Rheurdt/Littard is a large forest area with lakes and wetlands near Rheurdt. The lakes formed from old peat extraction pits and are now surrounded by forests and meadows that provide habitat for birds and animals.
The forest area was shaped long ago by peat extraction, with workers digging out the land that later filled with water to form lakes. These areas gradually developed into protected habitats, showing how landscapes can renew themselves naturally over time.
The forest is a place where locals and visitors have spent time connecting with the land across generations, making it part of their way of life. The lakes formed from old peat extraction pits and now serve as important habitats, showing how human activity and nature coexist here and how the landscape has renewed itself over time.
The paths are well marked and mostly flat, with easy routes suitable for all fitness levels. Sturdy footwear is recommended since some sections can be rocky, and bringing a map or GPS device is helpful as free digital trail data is available.
The lakes formed from abandoned peat extraction pits that filled with water over decades and became valuable breeding and resting sites for rare waterbirds. This unexpected transformation shows how abandoned industrial sites can become living natural spaces again.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
