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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.
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