Protected Areas and Surrounding Natural Landscapes near Sandgruben am Föhrenbuck

Schwarzachschlucht Nature Reserve: Geographic Map and Protected Landscape Overview in Bavaria

A study of Franconian sandstone topography and riverine protected habitats

Schwarzachschlucht provides a focused example of geological erosion and forest conservation in Bavaria. This nature reserve features distinctive honeycomb-weathered cliffs, deep river-carved channels, and a significant moss-rich microclimate that has been protected since 1936. The site serves as a vital case for observing the transition between mixed forest slopes and alder-lined riverbanks within the Nürnberger Land district.

Area

0.38 km²

Established

1936

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Schwarzenbrucker Moor Nature Reserve: Geography and Protected Wetland Boundaries

A rare peatland habitat in the Middle Franconian landscape.

Schwarzenbrucker Moor is a preserved wetland complex situated within a bowl shaped former river meander. This nature reserve sustains a dense mosaic of open water, reedbeds, and alder bog woodland. Examine the site geography, mapped boundaries, and environmental significance of this protected habitat within the Nürnberger Land district.

Area

0.1 km²

Established

1992

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Naturpark Frankenhöhe Protected Landscape: Geography, Map, and Regional Conservation Context

Explore the diverse natural terrain of the Mittelfranken region in Bavaria.

Naturpark Frankenhöhe serves as a significant protected landscape in western Mittelfranken, encompassing a unique mosaic of forests, vineyards, and agricultural valleys. This geographic entity is shaped by the European Main Watershed, where rivers divide between the Rhine and Danube systems. Its terrain provides a study in transitions, from higher forested crests to open orchard meadows that define the local Bavarian countryside.

Area

1,104.06 km²

Established

1974

Relief

Mixed relief

Climate

Temperate

Naturpark Fränkische Schweiz, Frankenjura: An Atlas of Bavarian Karst and Forested Landscapes

Protected landscape geography within the northern Franconian Jura.

Naturpark Fränkische Schweiz, Frankenjura is a landmark protected area covering over 2,300 square kilometers across Bavaria. Its terrain is defined by a rhythmic sequence of limestone plateaux, winding river valleys, and dolomite formations, balanced by the quieter, pine-dominated reaches of the Veldensteiner Forst. This atlas entry details the park's geological complexity and its significant role in regional conservation.

Area

2,335.44 km²

Established

1968

Relief

Upland

Climate

Temperate

Sägmühle Nature Reserve: Geographic Overview and Protected Landscape Mapping in Bavaria

An intricate shoreline habitat nestled between two reservoir basins

Sägmühle Nature Reserve represents a key protected shoreline fragment in the Franconian Lake District of Bavaria. The terrain encompasses a mosaic of shallow-water flats, emergent vegetation, and pine-forested uplands characterized by acidic sandy soils. This area serves as a critical refuge for waterbirds, demonstrating the ecological potential of shorelines within an engineered reservoir network.

Area

0.32 km²

Established

2000

IUCN

IV

Rinntal bei Alfeld Nature Reserve: Geographic Profile and Protected Valley Landscape

A preserved limestone dry valley in the Franconian Jura of Bayern

Rinntal bei Alfeld is a significant nature reserve covering 34 hectares of dry valley landscape. Its geography includes abandoned field terraces, juniper-framed slopes, and rocky dolomite outcrops. As part of the Natura 2000 Bachtäler der Hersbrucker Alb network, the reserve showcases the traditional grazing influence and limestone karst features of the Franconian Jura plateau.

Area

0.338 km²

Established

2000

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Schottental bei Heldmannsberg Nature Reserve: Mapped Geography and Protected Valley Landscapes

A diverse karst valley reserve in the Middle Franconia region of Bavaria.

Located in the Nürnberger Land district of Bavaria, Schottental bei Heldmannsberg is a nature reserve that protects a narrow, limestone-walled side valley. The site offers a detailed look at dolomite cliff faces, hydrologically active karst spring pools, and a mosaic of calcareous dry grasslands and beech-pine woodland. This atlas entry provides insight into its geological features, including the notable Bärenfels outcrop, and its role in preserving traditional Hutanger grazing habitats within the Hersbrucker Alb.

Area

0.415 km²

Established

1996

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Schergenbuck mit Schloss Neidstein: Nature Reserve and Protected Karst Landscape

Forestry and geological mapping of a historic Bavarian ridge

Located in the Amberg-Sulzbach district of Bavaria, this nature reserve integrates historic castle ruins with species-rich deciduous woodland and sensitive karst topography. It remains a key point of interest for understanding how small-scale protected areas preserve biodiversity, including native European yew, against the backdrop of the Franconian Jura landscape.

Area

0.177 km²

Established

1973

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Schambachried: Protected Calcareous Fen and Wetland Geography in Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen

Historic nature reserve marking the karst and valley transition

Schambachried preserves a rare calcareous lowland fen within the Treuchtlingen Pforte of Bavaria. As the oldest nature reserve in Middle Franconia, this protected area offers a concentrated study of botanical diversity at the meeting point of the Weißenburger Alb limestone plateau and the Schambach valley stream system.

Area

0.069 km²

Established

1973

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Naturwald Wasserwand Nature Reserve: Mapped Protected Forests of Upper Franconia, Bayern

An undisturbed oak and beech woodland within the Bruderwald forest plateau.

Naturwald Wasserwand represents a core node in the protected forest network surrounding Bamberg, Bayern. This nature reserve, spanning 30 hectares, focuses on preserving near-natural forest processes through the exclusion of active timber management. The site provides a unique opportunity to study the development of mature broadleaf stands in a transitional zone between suburban expansion and the rural Franconian countryside.

Area

0.291 km²

Established

2022

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Naturwald Schlag Nature Reserve: Geographic Atlas and Protected Forest Context in Bavaria

A dedicated site for natural forest development and regional conservation mapping

Naturwald Schlag serves as a vital case study for non-intervention forestry in the Steigerwald region of Upper Franconia. Located near the locality of Heuchelheim, this reserve protects a mature stand of pine, beech, and oak. MoriAtlas provides a clear view of its formal designation and geographic position within the broader Bavarian natural forest network.

Area

0.008 km²

Established

2021

Relief

Upland

Climate

Temperate

Naturwald Wolfsruhe Protected Forest Reserve: An Oberfranken Geography and Atlas Overview

Analyzing the forest composition and Keuper escarpment landscape

Naturwald Wolfsruhe is a protected nature reserve in Oberfranken that showcases a unique forest ecosystem shaped by former coppice-with-standards management. This site offers valuable insight into the biodiversity of the Franconian Keuper-Lias region, where pedunculate oak stands and varied soil substrates create a distinct natural landscape south of Bamberg.

Area

0.465 km²

Established

1978

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Naturpark Hirschwald: A Protected Landscape and Geographic Overview in Bavaria, Germany

Calcareous dry grassland habitats and regional forest mosaic

Naturpark Hirschwald is a compact, mosaic-like protected landscape located in Bavaria. The park integrates the Lauterach valley, sun-exposed limestone slopes, and juniper-rich heathlands. Recognized for its critical role in bat conservation and diverse regional terrain, it provides a clear example of the ecological transition between the Franconian Alb and northern Upper Palatinate forests.

Area

277.6 km²

Established

2006

Relief

Upland

Climate

Temperate

Naturpark Nördlicher Oberpfälzer Wald: Protected Landscape and Regional Geography Map

Forested upland terrain and volcanic geology in Bavaria

Explore the structured geography of Naturpark Nördlicher Oberpfälzer Wald, a massive protected region in Bavaria. This detailed profile highlights the park's characteristic ridge and valley terrain, volcanic basalt landmarks, and its role as a vital ecological belt along the international border.

Area

1,380 km²

Water

Minor water

Naturwaldreservat Tucherwald: Protected Karst Forest Landscape in Landkreis Eichstätt

A study in non-intervention woodland and natural forest dynamics

Naturwaldreservat Tucherwald preserves a diverse mosaic of beech, oak, and linden forest on the steep, limestone slopes of the southern Frankenalb. This protected area offers insight into unmanaged forest succession, standing deadwood habitats, and the unique microclimates found within the Wellheim Dry Valley regional geography.

Area

0.541 km²

Established

1998

Relief

Upland

Scope

Terrestrial

Naturwald Speckfeld: Protected Forest Reserve and Steigerwald Geographic Detail

Broadleaf woodland and gypsum ridge landscapes in Bavaria

Naturwald Speckfeld offers a look into unharvested forest dynamics within the Steigerwald mountains. This protected area stands out for its steep topography, historical castle ruins, and rare broadleaf woodland transitions, providing a critical reference point for natural forest conservation in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria.

Area

0.195 km²

Established

1978

Relief

Upland

Climate

Temperate

Schulterbachtal Nature Reserve: Mapped Geography and Protected Wetland Landscapes in Bavaria

A focused analysis of the Steigerwald wetland and brook habitats

Schulterbachtal occupies a protected valley floor within the Haßberge district, characterized by its near-natural stream, extensive wet meadow communities, and characteristic alder-ash woodland belts. As a key segment of the northern Steigerwald ecosystem, this site demonstrates the ecological significance of managed cultural landscapes and provides a detailed view of its hydrological and vegetative terrain.

Area

0.341 km²

Established

1990

IUCN

IV

Crailsheimer Hart und Reusenberg: Protected Nature Reserve and Karst Landscape Geography

Jagst valley protected habitat in Baden-Württemberg

Crailsheimer Hart und Reusenberg represents a key conservation unit in southwest Germany. This nature reserve is recognized for its distinctive gypsum keuper geology, which creates a network of dolines, semi-dry grasslands, and near-natural floodplain forests. Understanding its boundaries provides insight into habitat connectivity within the broader Baden-Württemberg protected-area network.

Area

7.14 km²

Established

2019

Naturwald Waldhaus: Geographic Mapping of an Ancient Beech Reserve in Steigerwald, Bavaria

Protected natural woodland and forest biodiversity in northern Germany.

Naturwald Waldhaus stands as a prime example of a protected forest in the Steigerwald, recognized for its exceptionally old beech stands and documented saproxylic beetle populations. This nature reserve provides essential ecological continuity within the Bamberg district, representing a rare, undisturbed woodland landscape that serves as a cornerstone for forest research in southern Germany.

Area

1.062 km²

Established

1978

Relief

Upland

Climate

Temperate

Naturwald Krackentännig Nature Reserve: A Protected Forest Landscape in Northern Bavaria

Geography of the Steigerwaldvorland and Gänsseegraben valley floor

Situated near Prichsenstadt, Naturwald Krackentännig acts as a refuge for ash and alder trees that thrive in the moist soils of the Lower Franconian countryside. This nature reserve provides a critical example of undisturbed forest development, showcasing a specialized ecosystem within the rolling hills of the Steigerwaldvorland and a commitment to preserving small-scale woodland habitats.

Area

0.026 km²

Established

2021

Relief

Lowland

Scope

Terrestrial