Spreewald Biosphere Reserve

The Spreewald Biosphere Reserve, Germany is located 100 kms southeast of Berlin. It was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1991. Known for its traditional irrigation system, the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve comprises above 200 small channels or fliesse within a total area of 484 sq. kms. The landscape of the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve, Germany was formulated in the Ice Age. The region is characterized by alder forests on wetlands and pine forests on dry sandy areas apart from grasslands and fields. Until 1998, the number of people who inhabited this biosphere reserve was 50,000. Most had descended from the first settlers in the Spreewald region.

Until this day, the people, mostly Slavs and Wends, have preserved their language, customs and clothing. People of Spreewald primarily depend on tourism. Mostly, travelers enjoy exploring the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve in punts or flat bottomed boats. However, some of the alternative sources of income are agriculture, forestry and fishery. The local capital of Spreewald is Lubbenau. It is considered to be Berlin's green area. The towns of Lubben and Lubbenau, 13 kms apart from either, rival each other as the charm capital of the Wald. The best thing to do while you are in Spreewald is to visit the forest by boat.

You can take a punt boat and row in the canals of Spreewald. The other options are walking and hiking. The tourist office in Lubben sells maps that give you walking trails. The best hike by far is probably from Lubben to Lubbenau. If you have time to spare, visit Lehde, the Venice of Spreewald. It houses a museum with artifacts of Sorbian architecture. Spreewald, in the end, is nature at its best with croaking frogs, chirping birds, and rare dragonflies flitting by you. The lagoon of Lehde is worth exploration as well.