- for any weather
- for groups
- for school classes
- for families
- for individual guests
- Pets allowed
- Suitable for seniors
- Free admission
Muckenbruch nature conservation & moorland mining area
Moor
The Muckenbruch nature reserve is one of the rare calcareous fens in North Rhine-Westphalia and represents a valuable natural habitat in the district of Soest. The special geological formation, the long history of use and the extraordinary diversity of species make the area an important natural and cultural heritage site. This is an impressive moorland landscape that has existed for thousands of years and still provides a habitat for numerous endangered animal and plant species.
Address
Muckenbruch nature conservation & moorland mining area
Bruchstraße
59597 Erwitte
Properties:
The Muckenbruch nature reserve and moorland mining area is located around one kilometer east of Bad Westernkotten and offers an impressive, mystical moorland landscape that invites you to explore. The nature reserve is one of the rare calcareous fens in North Rhine-Westphalia and represents a valuable natural habitat in the district of Soest. The special geological formation, the long history of use and the extraordinary diversity of species make the area an important natural and cultural heritage site.
The Muckenbruch was formed around 11,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. Water accumulated permanently in a natural depression in the terrain, causing dead plant remains to decompose incompletely in the low-oxygen environment. These half-decomposed plant remains developed into the lime-rich fen that still characterizes the landscape today.
The Muckenbruch was formed around 11,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. Water accumulated permanently in a natural depression in the terrain, causing dead plant remains to decompose incompletely in the low-oxygen environment. These half-decomposed plant remains developed into the lime-rich fen that still characterizes the landscape today.
Peat was extracted as fuel in the Muckenbruch in early times, as coal was expensive and firewood was scarce due to its use in salt production. The brick-sized pieces of peat that were dug out were called "Mucken" - a term that gave the area its name. Today, only bathing peat is extracted from the Muckenbruch, which is used as a remedy - for example for peat packs - and
the nature reserve is home to a large number of rare and endangered species. These include the yellow-bellied toad, the marsh harrier and typical bog plants such as the marsh marigold. Many of these species are on the Red List and underline the high ecological value of the area, where
targeted conservation measures such as rewetting are promoting alder swamp forests and stabilizing valuable habitats. Species such as the marsh harrier and the yellow-bellied toad, which are dependent on moist, structurally rich biotopes, benefit in particular from this.
information boards at the three entrances to the area provide information about the history, flora and fauna as well as the rules of conduct that apply in the nature reserve. An overview map shows the paths on which the Muckenbruch can be explored step by step.
