NSG Dummersdorfer Ufer

This protected area stretches approximately seven kilometers along the western shore of the Trave River, encompassing 342 hectares of diverse wetland habitats, steep forested slopes, dry grasslands, and reed beds that provide crucial nesting and resting sites for numerous bird species.

Originally designated as a natural monument in 1925 through Wilhelm Ohnesorge's initiative, the area was temporarily abandoned for industrial development in 1929 before being officially established as a nature reserve in 1958, with significant expansion occurring in 1991.

The region preserves archaeological evidence from multiple historical periods including Stone Age settlements, Germanic artifacts, and medieval remains, while local legends such as the tale of farmers retrieving a bull across frozen ice contribute to the area's cultural heritage.

Visitors can access the reserve via marked walking trails totaling 3.5 kilometers with varying difficulty levels, though strict regulations prohibit camping, leaving designated paths, and bringing pets into sensitive breeding areas to protect wildlife habitats.

The area contains rare Osteokollen fossils visible in the steep riverbank, which occur in only a few locations across Central Europe and provide evidence of ancient seabed formations from prehistoric marine environments.