A protected heathland pond complex east of Rheine, shaped by ancient meanders of the Ems.
Zachhorn
Zachhorn is a nature reserve in the northern German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, located on the territory of the town of Rheine in the district of Steinfurt. It protects a small, ecologically distinctive landscape centered on two inland heathland ponds, locally known as the großer Zachhorn and the kleiner Zachhorn, which are thought to have originated from an old river meander of the Ems and its tributary Hemelter Bach. Over time, drifting sand and shifting bank material filled the channel, transforming the former loop into the shallow, nutrient-poor pools that define the area today.
The reserve is recognized for its combination of acidic heathland vegetation, wetland margins, and amphibian habitats, making it a notable site for the conservation of plant and animal communities typical of northwestern Germany's sandy lowlands. Since its designation in 1990, with later reaffirmation in 2004, Zachhorn has been protected to preserve, restore, and foster these characteristic and often threatened communities.
Although relatively small in scale, Zachhorn sits within a broader network of protected sites in the Steinfurt district, forming part of a regional mosaic of heathland remnants, wet meadows, and riverine habitats that together sustain much of the area's remaining biodiversity.
