Delta de la Sauer National Nature Reserve, National nature reserve in Bas-Rhin, France
The Delta de la Sauer is a protected wetland reserve of roughly 500 hectares where the Sauer River meets the Rhine between two small communes. The area contains eight distinct habitats including floodplain forests, reed beds, and oxbow lakes that create a diverse ecosystem.
The landscape underwent major transformation in the 1840s when river management projects modified the Sauer's natural meanders and altered flooding patterns in the delta. These engineering changes reshaped the ecosystem and continue to influence conditions today.
The white willow woodland reflects a long tradition of land management in Alsace, shaped by methods that respect the river's natural patterns and seasonal cycles.
Walking paths with clear markings guide visitors through the different habitats, with observation points positioned for bird watching opportunities. Spring and autumn offer the best conditions when large migrating flocks pass through the area.
This is one of the few places in France where field frogs breed successfully and where brown pelobates, a rare toad species, thrive in substantial populations. These amphibians have adapted uniquely to the specific water conditions created by the delta's seasonal rhythms.
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