Teufelsmoor, Nature reserve in Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Germany.
This nature reserve in Lower Saxony covers extensive wetlands with peat bogs, marshy grasslands, and open water areas. The landscape includes reed beds, heathland sections, and restored wetland zones that host a wide range of birds, amphibians, and insects.
The area has been mined for peat extraction since early modern times, shaping the landscape we see today. Commercial extraction continued into recent decades until mining permits were no longer issued in 2012.
The name refers to the dark and mysterious moorlands that once inspired local caution and folklore. Signboards along the trails explain how people shaped this landscape through peat harvesting and traditional moorland management practices over many generations.
The reserve features well-marked walking trails with viewing areas where you can observe wildlife without disturbing the habitat. Visit in spring or early summer to see and hear the most birds and amphibians.
Starting in the 1990s, former peat extraction areas were deliberately flooded to restore wetland habitats from scratch. This active restoration effort shows how industrial landscapes can be transformed back into thriving ecosystems.
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