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Mapping geographic proximity and landscape continuity within the Sauerland region

Regional Protected Landscapes and Nature Reserves Near Naturschutzgebiet Orketal

Explore the broader conservation network surrounding Naturschutzgebiet Orketal by identifying nearby protected areas and nature reserves within North Rhine-Westphalia. This spatial view provides a geographic context for the brook valleys, floodplain meadows, and forest corridors that characterize the surrounding landscape of the Medebacher Bucht and Rothaargebirge.

A flat-style digital illustration of a mountain valley with a waterfall in the center, pine trees in the midground, and a grassy meadow with grazing animals in the foreground.

A protected brook-and-meadow valley in the eastern Sauerland, safeguarding the Orke river and its floodplain habitats.

Naturschutzgebiet Orketal

Naturschutzgebiet Orketal is a municipal-scale nature reserve in the town area of Medebach, in the Hochsauerlandkreis district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The reserve follows the upper course of the Orke, a small brook that flows through a narrow valley of grassland, meadow, and woodland along the northern side of the Rothaargebirge uplands. Designated as a protected area in 1999 and re-designated under the 2003 Medebach landscape plan, its core purpose is to safeguard the brook itself together with the adjoining floodplain meadows and the species assemblages they support. The protected area spans roughly 198 hectares along the Orke between the Medebach-Winterberg boundary in the west and the Medebach-Lichtenfels boundary in the east, with the small village of Medelon cutting through the protection zone and dividing it into two parts. It forms one element of a broader regional conservation network: it lies within the European Bird Protection Area Medebacher Bucht and overlaps with the FFH (Habitats Directive) site Waldreservat Glindfeld-Orketal. In the western Medebach area, the Glindfeld forest reserve effectively extends the protection corridor along the same valley system. Ecologically, Orketal is notable less for dramatic scenery than for its intact mosaic of flowing water, soft floodplain meadows, and adjacent woodlands. The reserve is documented as breeding habitat for the European kingfisher and the grey wagtail, both classic indicator species for healthy, unpolluted lowland brook environments. A long species inventory published by the state environment agency captures fish, breeding birds, dragonflies, a reptile, numerous grasses and wildflowers typical of nutrient-poor meadows and wet flushes, making the reserve a useful local reference site for brook-valley conservation in central Germany.

Location
Germany
Park type
Nature reserve
Established
1999
Area
2 km²
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Regional park map

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Nearby parks around Naturschutzgebiet Orketal

This regional map shows the same 20 nearby parks ranked below around Naturschutzgebiet Orketal. Select a ranked marker to highlight that park’s boundary where boundary data is available.
Reference park: Naturschutzgebiet OrketalRanked nearby park20 nearby parks shown
20 nearby parks

Distance ranked collection of surrounding protected landscapes and regional valley reserves

Parks and Protected Areas Geographically Near Naturschutzgebiet Orketal

Browse protected areas positioned geographically close to Naturschutzgebiet Orketal through a distance ranked collection of surrounding regional parks. Analyzing proximity metrics alongside recorded environmental attributes reveals broader conservation patterns across the surrounding terrain.
A watercolor painting showing a soft, green, rolling valley with a stream and yellow wildflowers in the foreground against a light, distant hilly horizon.
Nature reserveNorth Rhine-Westphalia
About 4.4 km away#1 closest

Southwest

Naturschutzgebiet Ölfetal: Mapped Boundaries and Grassland Ecosystems in the Sauerland

A regional protected nature reserve near Medebach

Naturschutzgebiet Ölfetal offers a detailed look into the meadow-and-stream ecology of the Sauerland uplands. Stretching along the Ölfe river, the reserve features a complex mosaic of wet and dry meadow habitats that support specific plant species and local grassland bird populations. Its protected status maintains a vital stream corridor that bridges agricultural zones and broader ecological networks within eastern North Rhine-Westphalia.

Area
0.124 km²
Established
2003
Relief
Lowland
Scope
Terrestrial
Nature reserveHochsauerlandkreis
About 8.5 km away#2 closest

Northwest

Naturschutzgebiet Almecke: Geographic Atlas and Protected Landscape Overview

A preserved hedgerow mosaic in the Hochsauerlandkreis region.

Naturschutzgebiet Almecke is a significant nature reserve characterized by its formal inclusion in the European bird protection area network. The site offers a concentrated look at traditional cultural landscapes, specifically the interaction between steep valley topography, contour-following hedgerows, and dry upland pastures. This protected area serves as an essential case study in localized conservation geography and habitat structure within the wider Sauerland region.

Area
0.058 km²
Established
2003
Relief
Upland
Scope
Terrestrial
Nature reserveNorth Rhine-Westphalia
About 8.7 km away#3 closest

Northwest

Naturschutzgebiet Oberes Dittelsbachtal - Klokenbruch: Regional Protected Area Map

Sauerland brook valley and meadow landscape

This nature reserve protects 14 hectares of the upper Dittelsbach stream and surrounding damp grasslands. The landscape is defined by its compact valley form, spring-fed mires, and traditional grazing patches, serving as an important link for bird protection in the Medebacher Bucht region of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Area
0.139 km²
Established
2003
Scope
Terrestrial
Water
Major water bodies
Nature reserveHochsauerlandkreis
About 10 km away#4 closest

North

Naturschutzgebiet Osterntal: Protected Valley Mosaic and Regional Geography

Explore nature reserve boundaries and ecological terrain in Hochsauerlandkreis.

Naturschutzgebiet Osterntal protects a distinct valley mosaic in the eastern Sauerland, featuring rare wet grasslands and nutrient-poor meadows. This nature reserve provides essential habitat connectivity within the broader European Bird Protection Area, showcasing the region's managed pastoral landscape and varied topography.

Area
0.064 km²
Established
2003
Relief
Upland
Climate
Temperate
A soft watercolor painting depicting a landscape of rolling green hills, gentle slopes, and distant mountains against a plain background.
Nature reserveHessen
About 11 km away#5 closest

North

Naturschutzgebiet Kahle Pön bei Usseln: Protected Highland Heath and Upland Landscapes

A rare botanical nature reserve within the Hessian Upland landscape

Naturschutzgebiet Kahle Pön bei Usseln protects an open heath plateau above the Usseln valley, providing essential habitat for heath-breeding birds and rare butterflies. This nature reserve serves as an vital component of the transboundary highland heath network, demonstrating unique conservation efforts through sheep grazing and sod removal on former beech woodland soils in Waldeck-Frankenberg.

Area
0.35 km²
Established
1987
IUCN
IV
A pale, minimalist watercolor painting showing rolling green hills, meadows, and sparse trees against a soft, light background.
Nature reserveWaldeck-Frankenberg
About 11 km away#6 closest

North

Naturschutzgebiet Grotenberg bei Welleringhausen: Mapped Nature Reserve in Waldeck-Frankenberg

A preserved dry grassland landscape in the eastern Sauerland mountains.

This protected area represents a crucial remnant of silicate dry grassland in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district. Known for its diabase-rich volcanic substrate and successful habitat restoration through traditional Heidschnucken sheep grazing, the reserve offers a compact window into the upland ecology of the eastern Sauerland mountain region.

Area
0.198 km²
Established
1992
IUCN
IV
A horizontal watercolor painting depicting a soft green landscape with rolling hills, a meandering stream, and light vegetation.
Nature reserveNordrhein-Westfalen
About 11 km away#7 closest

West

Naturschutzgebiet Schluchtwald Helle: Ravine Forest Geography and Protected Area Overview

Mapping the Sauerland upland streams and old-growth woodland habitat

This protected nature reserve spans roughly 58 hectares of steep, incised terrain near Winterberg, Germany. It safeguards the headwaters of the Helle stream, providing a stable, humid microclimate that fosters high biodiversity within a compact, moss-covered woodland setting that remains free from active human management.

Area
0.581 km²
Established
2008
IUCN
IV
Relief
Upland
Nature reserveWaldeck-Frankenberg
About 11 km away#8 closest

Northwest

Naturschutzgebiet Jägers Weinberg: Geographic Profile of a Protected Upland Wetland

A mapped nature reserve in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district of northern Hesse

Naturschutzgebiet Jägers Weinberg is a protected wetland landscape in northern Hesse, Germany. This area preserves a rare combination of raised bog and birch swamp forest, functioning as a vital botanical refuge in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district. Its mapped boundaries highlight a specialized ecological site that offers clear insights into the micro-topography and natural history of the local Upland terrain.

Area
0.254 km²
Established
1979
IUCN
IV
Relief
Upland
A horizontal watercolor painting depicting a soft, pastel-colored landscape with rolling hills in the background, a line of trees in the midground, and a small winding stream or boggy area in the foreground.
Nature reserveHessen
About 12 km away#9 closest

Northwest

Naturschutzgebiet Alter Hagen bei Willingen: Protected Nature Reserve and Wetland Atlas

Landscape and geographic overview in the Hessen region

Naturschutzgebiet Alter Hagen bei Willingen covers a significant floodplain system in the Hessen uplands. This nature reserve serves as a critical habitat for diverse butterfly communities and relict woodland flora, centered on the headwaters of the River Itter. Its mix of swamps, bogs, and beech-dominated forest makes it a key site for understanding the geography of protected mire ecosystems in Central Germany.

Area
1.436 km²
Established
1989
IUCN
IV
Relief
Upland
Watercolor painting showing a landscape with hills, forest, and a body of water
National parkHesse
About 12 km away#10 closest

East

Kellerwald-Edersee National Park: Hesse's Protected Landscape Exploration

Mapped boundaries and geographic context for this German national park.

Navigate the protected landscape of Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, a key national park situated in the German state of Hesse. This atlas entry focuses on its precise geographic definition, mapped terrain features, and the broader regional context it occupies within central Germany. Gain structured insights into the park's conservation significance and its place in the mapped landscape.

Area
76.88 km²
Established
2004
IUCN
II
Relief
Highland
A watercolor-style digital illustration of a gentle, rolling green landscape with a winding path and distant hills on a white background.
Nature reserveWaldeck-Frankenberg
About 13 km away#11 closest

Northwest

Naturschutzgebiet Grebensteine bei Willingen: Protected Forest and Rock Outcrop Atlas

Ecological mapping of the Itter valley gorge forest in Waldeck-Frankenberg

This nature reserve protects a rare, near-primary gorge forest (Schluchtwald) in northern Hesse. Its steep slopes are characterized by isolated rock outcrops, boulder-rich substrates, and springs that foster high botanical diversity. The site serves as a critical example of upland forest conservation within the larger protected landscape of the Rothaargebirge foothills and the Diemelsee Nature Park.

Area
0.157 km²
Established
1985
IUCN
IV
Relief
Mountain
Nature reserveHesse
About 13 km away#12 closest

North

Naturschutzgebiet Osterkopf bei Usseln: Protected Highland Heath and Upland Landscape

Hesse nature reserve with Atlantic-Boreal botanical features

Located in the Upland highlands of northern Hesse, this protected area features rare summit heath and species-rich mountain meadows. The reserve represents a functional link in the regional network of highland ecosystems, preserving specialized habitats characterized by mat-grass swards and an unusual northern vegetation profile.

Area
0.357 km²
Established
1982
IUCN
IV
Relief
Mountain
Nature reserveNorth Rhine-Westphalia
About 13 km away#13 closest

West

Naturschutzgebiet Ahretalsystem: Mapped Protected Brook Valley and Low Mountain Landscape

Ecological terrain analysis of the Sauerland uplands

Naturschutzgebiet Ahretalsystem protects a refined valley system in the Rothaargebirge, showcasing the intricate interplay between near-natural stream courses and traditional mountain pastures. This reserve serves as a key site for montane brook conservation, hosting significant botanical populations within its mosaic of wet meadows and dry slope grasslands across the Winterberg landscape.

Area
0.358 km²
Established
2008
Relief
Mountain
Climate
Temperate
Nature reserveNordrhein-Westfalen
About 14 km away#14 closest

Northwest

Hoppecke-Quellbäche Nature Reserve: Protected Headwater Landscapes in Nordrhein-Westfalen

Highland spring and mountain brook habitats within the Rothaargebirge

Hoppecke-Quellbäche safeguards essential headwater habitats across the mid-slopes of the Clemensberg and the high ground leading to the Langenberg. This nature reserve, organized into three distinct parcels, maps the hydrological connections that feed the upper Hoppecke stream within the broader protected-area network of the northern Sauerland region.

Area
0.169 km²
Established
2008
IUCN
IV
Relief
Mountain
Nature reserveNorth Rhine-Westphalia
About 14 km away#15 closest

Northwest

Naturschutzgebiet Oberes Ruhrtal: Mapping the Sauerland Headwater Valley Landscape

Protected grassland and river valley geography

Discover the topography and protected boundaries of Naturschutzgebiet Oberes Ruhrtal. This nature reserve in North Rhine-Westphalia preserves a classic headwater valley, where the young Ruhr meanders through nutrient-poor meadows, wet grasslands, and varied riparian terrain, offering a clear example of traditional agricultural landscape conservation.

Area
0.553 km²
Established
2008
IUCN
IV
Relief
Upland
Nature reserveNorth Rhine-Westphalia
About 15 km away#16 closest

West

Naturschutzgebiet Odeborn-Talsystem: Protected Valley and Meadow Geography

Nature reserve terrain in the Rothaar Mountains of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Naturschutzgebiet Odeborn-Talsystem protects a vital valley system featuring traditionally managed mountain grasslands and the winding course of the Odeborn stream. This nature reserve provides essential habitat connectivity within the broader North Rhine-Westphalia region, representing a unique intersection of stream, forest, and open-field topography managed for conservation.

Area
0.575 km²
Established
2008
IUCN
IV
Relief
Upland
Nature reserveNorth Rhine-Westphalia
About 18 km away#17 closest

West

Naturschutzgebiet Oberes Lennetal: Protected Stream Valley and Meadow Ecosystem Atlas

Geographic analysis of the Upper Lenne valley conservation area.

Naturschutzgebiet Oberes Lennetal serves as a cornerstone of habitat protection along the upper Lenne River in North Rhine-Westphalia. The reserve features a unique combination of near-natural stream channels and traditionally managed valley meadows. This atlas entry details the site's role in the regional network of protected lands, emphasizing its hydrological features and diverse mountain grassland character within the Sauerland.

Area
0.256 km²
Established
2008
IUCN
IV
Nature reserveNorth Rhine-Westphalia
About 18 km away#18 closest

Northwest

Naturschutzgebiet Olsberger Ruhrtal oberhalb Assinghausen: Protected River Corridor and Valley Geography

Nature reserve featuring floodplain habitats in the Sauerland region

This nature reserve protects the natural flow and riparian ecosystem of the upper Ruhr river. Comprising three distinct sections, it serves as an important ecological link within the Sauerland landscape, preserving floodplain meadows and the river channel corridor. The area represents a focused approach to river-centered conservation in North Rhine-Westphalia, providing a clear example of protected habitat integration within the German landscape.

Area
0.155 km²
Established
2004
Relief
Lowland
Scope
Terrestrial
A watercolor landscape illustration showing a winding river flowing through a green meadow with a line of trees in the background.
Nature reserveNorth Rhine-Westphalia
About 20 km away#19 closest

Northwest

Naturschutzgebiet Oberes Hoppecketal: Geography and Protected Valley Landscapes

A vital river floodplain reserve in eastern Sauerland

Naturschutzgebiet Oberes Hoppecketal protects 21.4 hectares of near-natural river channel and valley floor near Brilon. This reserve represents a crucial link in the regional mosaic of floodplain habitats, offering important data on aquatic connectivity and wet meadow ecosystems within the North Rhine-Westphalia conservation landscape.

Area
0.214 km²
Established
2001
Relief
Lowland
Climate
Temperate
A watercolor illustration depicting a serene river valley landscape with soft rolling hills and clusters of trees in the distance.
Nature reserveNordrhein-Westfalen
About 21 km away#20 closest

Northwest

Naturschutzgebiet Oberes Elpetal: Protected Stream Valley and Floodplain Geography

A representative Sauerland nature reserve in Nordrhein-Westfalen.

This nature reserve protects a vital section of the upper Elpe stream, characterized by intact meanders, small-scale fish ponds, and moisture-loving vegetation. The valley floor creates a sheltered micro-habitat of riparian strips and traditional grazing lands, essential for the regional integrity of upland stream systems in the Hochsauerland district.

Area
0.112 km²
Established
2004
IUCN
IV
Distance methodology

Geographic measurements, not driving distances

How nearby park distances are calculated

Distances use park boundaries whenever the available geometry allows it. When one or both boundaries are missing, the mapped park locations provide a clearly labelled estimate. Every value represents straight-line geographic separation and does not use roads or routing.

Boundary distance

Calculated between the nearest points of both park boundaries.

Location-to-boundary estimate

Estimated from one mapped park location to the nearest boundary of the other park.

Mapped-location estimate

Estimated between the mapped locations of both parks.

MoriAtlas Explorer

Discover the Protected Geography of Naturschutzgebiet Orketal

Explore the detailed mapping and ecological context of Naturschutzgebiet Orketal within the Sauerland uplands. This MoriAtlas destination provides clear insights into the floodplain meadows and brook habitats that define this protected German nature reserve. Start your geographic exploration of the Orketal valley today.