Tiefwerder Wiesen
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Tiefwerder Wiesen (lit.
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
: Tiefwerder meadows) in
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
is the remnant of the former
floodplain A floodplain or flood plain or bottomlands is an area of land adjacent to a river. Floodplains stretch from the banks of a river channel to the base of the enclosing valley, and experience flooding during periods of high Discharge (hydrolog ...
landscape in the
Havel The Havel () is a river in northeastern Germany, flowing through the States of Germany, states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt. The long Havel is a right tributary of the Elbe. However, the direct distance from ...
/
Spreetal Spreetal (German) or Sprjewiny Doł (Upper Sorbian, ) is a municipality in the district of Bautzen, in Saxony, Germany. The municipality is part of the recognized Sorbian settlement area in Saxony. Upper Sorbian Upper Sorbian (), occasiona ...
lowlands Upland and lowland are conditional descriptions of a plain based on elevation above sea level. In studies of the ecology of freshwater rivers, habitats are classified as upland or lowland. Definitions Upland and lowland are portions of a ...
. It is situated in the Tiefwerder area and the lowland region of the Pichelswerder River
peninsula A peninsula is a landform that extends from a mainland and is only connected to land on one side. Peninsulas exist on each continent. The largest peninsula in the world is the Arabian Peninsula. Etymology The word ''peninsula'' derives , . T ...
in the
Wilhelmstadt Wilhelmstadt () is a German locality (''Ortsteil'') of Berlin in the borough (''Bezirk'') of Spandau. History In the year 1945 the allied armed forces from the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom accomplished an exchange of territory, among the ...
district of
Spandau Spandau () is the westernmost of the 12 boroughs of Berlin, boroughs () of Berlin, situated at the confluence (geography), confluence of the Havel and Spree (river), Spree rivers and extending along the western bank of the Havel. It is the smalle ...
. These
wet meadow A wet meadow is a type of wetland with soils that are Solubility, saturated for part or all of the growing season which prevents the growth of trees and brush. Debate exists whether a wet meadow is a type of marsh or a completely separate type of ...
s contain historical
Havel River The Havel () is a river in northeastern Germany, flowing through the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt. The long Havel is a right tributary of the Elbe. However, the direct distance from its source to its ...
arms and have been protected under Landschaftsschutzgebiet (LSG) (landscape conservation area) since 1960, covering an area of 66.7 hectares. Within the LSG lies the Faule See (Lazy Lake), which emerged from an old arm of the Havel. The natural floodplain is the last
pike Pike, Pikes or The Pike may refer to: Fish * Blue pike or blue walleye, an extinct color morph of the yellow walleye ''Sander vitreus'' * Ctenoluciidae, the "pike characins", some species of which are commonly known as pikes * ''Esox'', genus of ...
spawning area in Berlin. However, due to the lowering of the Havel water level since 1990, the accessibility of the meadows for the pike has significantly deteriorated. Moreover, the German Unity 17 transport project, if implemented, would cause a further drop in the water level, posing an additional threat to the pike's habitat. Endangered species such as the bladder sedge grow in the wet meadows dominated by sedge in Berlin. The LSG serves as an important inner-city link in the Havel biotope network and functions as a flight path for bats and a migration route for the native
beaver Beavers (genus ''Castor'') are large, semiaquatic rodents of the Northern Hemisphere. There are two existing species: the North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') and the Eurasian beaver (''C. fiber''). Beavers are the second-large ...
. Since 2007, Berlin has been considering extending its protected status to a nature reserve.


Territory boundaries

The highly dissected landscape conservation area lies between the Havel, the Havelchaussee, and the
Heerstraße ''Heerstraße'' is the German word for military road, a type or road that was built to enable the rapid movement of armies. Specific roads built for this purpose include the: * Aachen-Frankfurter Heerstraße * Bernauer Heerstraße * Lüneburger ...
(Bundesstraßen
B 2 B2, B02, B.II, B.2 or B-2 may refer to: Transportation Aircraft * AEG B.II, a German aircraft during World War I * Albatros B.II, a 1914 unarmed German two-seat reconnaissance biplane * Aviatik B.II, a 1915 German reconnaissance aircraft * B ...
/ B 5). It starts in the north with a narrow east tip of the Freiheitswiesen on Tiefwerder. The western boundary runs southwest between an allotment/weekend settlement and a forest and meadow area, then continues along the Faulen See Lake, and finally crosses the Kleiner Jürgengraben ditch. In the lowland area south of the village of Tiefwerder, the boundary turns west and runs along the Kleiner Jürgengraben for a short distance to the Havel River. Along the river and the Havelseenweg, the western border stretches south almost to the Freybrücke (Frey bridge) and, after a short detour, it reaches the Heerstraße on Pichelswerder. On the eastern side, the boundary starts from the narrow northern tip of the area, omitting the Tiefwerder waterworks. It runs southward along the Havelchaussee and the Havelaltarm Hohler Weg, which flows into the Stößensee Lake. Here, it also runs parallel to the district border with
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf () is the fourth borough of Berlin, formed in an administrative reform with effect from 1 January 2001, by merging the former boroughs of Charlottenburg and Wilmersdorf. Overview Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf covers the ...
, which is marked by the
S-Bahn The S-Bahn ( , ), , is a hybrid urban rail, urban–suburban rail system serving a metropolitan region predominantly in German language, German-speaking countries. Some of the larger S-Bahn systems provide service similar to rapid transit syst ...
embankment of the Spandauer Vorortbahn (Spandau Suburban Railway), located a few meters away from the Havelchaussee. Just before reaching the Stößensee Lake, the LSG border crosses the Hohlen Weg to the west towards the Steffenhorn and runs below the Schulzenwall and Langer Wall along the Hauptgraben back to the north. Then it circles the weekend settlement on the hill of Pichelswerder at the transverse ditch to the Toten Mantel, turns south again below the hill, and reaches the Heerstraße past the Pichelswerder
natural gas storage Natural gas is a commodity that can be stored for an indefinite period of time in natural gas storage facilities for later consumption. Usage Gas storage is principally used to meet load variations. Gas is injected into storage during periods o ...
facility. The southern boundary follows Heerstraße for about 300 meters. The landscape conservation area measures approximately 1.6 kilometers in length from north to south and about 900 meters in width, from west to east. During the German division, the
GDR East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from its formation on 7 October 1949 until its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on 3 October 1990. Until 1989, it was generally vie ...
claimed a small part of the Tiefwerder Wiesen as an exclave of the municipality of Seeburg. However, this claim had no consequences due to the opposition of the British authorities.


Geology, natural space, and climate

The Tiefwerder Wiesen is located in the southern part of the
Spree Spree may refer to: Film and television * ''The Spree'', a 1998 American television film directed by Tommy Lee Wallace * ''Spree'' (film), a 2020 American film starring Joe Keery * "Spree" (''Numbers''), an episode of the television show ''Number ...
where it meets the Havel River. This region is part of the Weichselian glacial valley in
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
, characterized by thick sands that reach depths of over 20 meters. The Havel River follows a glacial channel in this area and does not extensively utilize the glacial valley. On the eastern side, separated by the Havelchaussee and the
S-Bahn The S-Bahn ( , ), , is a hybrid urban rail, urban–suburban rail system serving a metropolitan region predominantly in German language, German-speaking countries. Some of the larger S-Bahn systems provide service similar to rapid transit syst ...
embankment, lies the Schanzenwald forest, which also belongs to the valley sand area of the Spree lowlands. The Schanzenwald merges into the Murellenberge mountains, creating the Murellenschlucht
canyon A canyon (; archaic British English spelling: ''cañon''), gorge or chasm, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tendency t ...
and Schanzenwald forest
nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologic ...
. These hilly areas are part of the northwestern edge of the
Teltow Plateau Teltow () is both a geological plateau and also a historical region in the German states of Brandenburg and Berlin. As an historical region, the Teltow was one of the eight territories out of which the March of Brandenburg was formed in the 12th an ...
. Interestingly, the Tiefwerder Wiesen and the Schanzenwald forest run parallel to each other, separated by only a few meters, but are now divided by the S-Bahn embankment of the Spandauer Vorortbahn, also known as Olympic Railway. This railroad was built during preparations for the Summer Olympics, which were canceled due to the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, and eventually took place in Berlin 20 years later. To the west of the Havel channel lies the former lowland Börnicker Lake, also known as Birnicker Lake. On its marshy meadows, the Spandauer Südpark (Spandau South Park) was established in 1923, featuring the Südparksee Lake. The channel continues to flow towards Scharfen Lanke and
Grimnitzsee Grimnitzsee () is a lake in Landkreis Barnim, Brandenburg, Germany. At an elevation of 64 m, its surface area is 7.8 km2. It is situated in the municipality of Joachimsthal. See also *Werbellinsee Lake Werbellin ( German ''Werbellinsee' ...
, which are located on the opposite side of the Havel, facing the Tiefwerder Wiesen. South of the Heerstrasse, the LSG Tiefwerder-Wiesen is followed by the landscape conservation area Pichelswerder, after which the Havel, which is canalized at Tiefwerder, opens into the southern Berlin Havel Lake chain. The Tiefwerder meadows are assigned to the Brandenburg-Potsdam Havel area (No. 812) in the natural space unit D 12a (East German Lowlands, Central Brandenburg Plates and Lowlands). The Tiefwerder Wiesen is in a temperate climate zone, transitioning from the Atlantic-influenced climate of Northern/Western Europe to the
continental climate Continental climates often have a significant annual variation in temperature (warm to hot summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in central and eastern parts of the three northern-tier continents (North America, Europe, and Asia), typi ...
of Eastern Europe, which is similar to the outskirts of Berlin.


Anthropogenic influences on flood dynamics

The
biotope A biotope is an area of uniform environmental conditions providing a living place for a specific assemblage of flora (plants), plants and fauna (animals), animals. ''Biotope'' is almost synonymous with the term habitat (ecology), "habitat", which ...
and landscape function of the Tiefwerder Wiesen also referred to as pike spawning meadows, relies heavily on their flood dynamics, which are greatly influenced by the water level of the Havel River and human activities. The Havel lakes play a significant role in regulating the
water level Water level, also known as gauge height or stage, is the elevation of the free surface of a sea, stream, lake or reservoir relative to a specified vertical datum. Over long distances, neglecting external forcings (such as wind), water level ten ...
s, resulting in a relatively stable environment. The river’s low gradient averaging about 0.05% (equivalent to 5 cm per kilometer), ensures a serene and tranquil flow through the country.


Middle ages

Archaeological discoveries of vessel fragments, belonging to the Prague type and dating back to the sixth to the eighth century, provide evidence of an early
Slavic Slavic, Slav or Slavonic may refer to: Peoples * Slavic peoples, an ethno-linguistic group living in Europe and Asia ** East Slavic peoples, eastern group of Slavic peoples ** South Slavic peoples, southern group of Slavic peoples ** West Slav ...
settlement on the eastern shore of the Faulen See (Lazy Lake), which was known as Wirchen Lake until the 19th century. The
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
saw the presence of a Slavic settlement, although it did not significantly impact the water regime of the region. However, many of the Havel's old water names and the former lake name, likely derived from the settlement's name (''Wirchen'' from Slavic ''verch/virch'' = height, elevation - referring to the neighboring Teltow slopes), trace back to this historical period. Following German settlement, the water level of the Havel experienced a significant rise around 1180, attributed to a
backwater Backwater or Backwaters may refer to: Music * ''Backwaters'' (album), a 1982 album by American guitarist Tony Rice * Backwater (band), a jazz fusion band from Mobile, Alabama, or this band's 1976 debut album * "Backwater", a song by Brian Eno fr ...
in
Spandau Spandau () is the westernmost of the 12 boroughs of Berlin, boroughs () of Berlin, situated at the confluence (geography), confluence of the Havel and Spree (river), Spree rivers and extending along the western bank of the Havel. It is the smalle ...
. This increase was primarily caused by the mill dam of the city of
Brandenburg Brandenburg, officially the State of Brandenburg, is a States of Germany, state in northeastern Germany. Brandenburg borders Poland and the states of Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony. It is the List of Ger ...
, which played a role in altering the flooding dynamics of the area. Despite water regulations implemented during the pre-industrial period between 1500 and 1750, the water balance of the region remained largely unaffected.


Havel regulations, and Elsgraben

Until the mid-19th century, the vast and intricate network of
estuary An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime enviro ...
branches from the Spree and numerous ramifications of the Havel would regularly flood the lowlands between the Spree and Pichelswerder.''Landschaftsschutzgebiet Tiefwerder Wiesen''. In: Senatsverwaltung In 1880 and 1881, the canalization of the Havel, known for its strong
meander A meander is one of a series of regular sinuous curves in the Channel (geography), channel of a river or other watercourse. It is produced as a watercourse erosion, erodes the sediments of an outer, concave bank (cut bank, cut bank or river cl ...
ing at Tiefwerder, and the river regulation during the expansion of the southern harbor at Tiefwerder in 1908 significantly altered the water network. However, the Elsgraben, built in 1832, played a crucial role in maintaining good flood dynamics. This canal diverted floodwaters from the Spree directly into the Tiefwerder Wiesen. Originally navigable until 1886, the Elsgraben gradually filled in around 1930. It connected the (old) Spree opposite the former Otternbucht (approximately at the location of today's Reuter combined heat and power plant) with the Faulen See. The primary purpose of the ditch was to protect
Spandau Spandau () is the westernmost of the 12 boroughs of Berlin, boroughs () of Berlin, situated at the confluence (geography), confluence of the Havel and Spree (river), Spree rivers and extending along the western bank of the Havel. It is the smalle ...
by directing water away from the city through the Faulen See into the Havel in case of floods. Additionally, the Elsgraben facilitated the drainage of the Verlandungsmoor Fließwiese Ruhleben (Flow meadow Ruhleben), a former dead ice channel and the northern continuation of the dry valley Murellenschlucht canyon, into the Tiefwerder Wiesen.


Settlement construction and conflicts of interest

In the early 20th century, the floodplain area underwent significant changes due to settlement construction and industrial development. Embankments were built, narrowing the floodplain over time. In 1816, the fishing village of Tiefwerder was established in a higher and flood-free area, marking the first steps of human settlement in the region. As industrial facilities sprouted in the northern part of the area from 1910 onwards, further changes to the landscape were set in motion. The construction of the Heerstraße, between 1910 and 1912, further divided the Stößensee with an embankment, affecting the nearby Pichelswerder as well. The demand for drinking water from the Tiefwerder
waterworks Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavors or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Public water supply systems are crucial to properly functioning societies. Thes ...
prompted the lowering of the groundwater level, starting in 1914. This change allowed for the construction of allotment colonies and weekend houses to the south of the village and along certain ditches. The freedom meadows (Freiheitswiesen) to the north were filled with rubble after the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. Today, the remaining floodplain in the Tiefwerder-Wiesen landscape conservation area consists only of a limited lowland area south of the village. To protect the delicate
wet meadow A wet meadow is a type of wetland with soils that are Solubility, saturated for part or all of the growing season which prevents the growth of trees and brush. Debate exists whether a wet meadow is a type of marsh or a completely separate type of ...
s, the state of Berlin undertook measures in the 1980s, removing road embankments and filled-in paths. Some of the pathways were replaced with footbridges and bridges, promoting a more sustainable approach to the preservation of the area's natural beauty. In 2005, the Naturschutzamt Spandau (Spandau Nature Conservation Office) issued notices of termination to 67 tenants who had allotment garden plots on state-owned land within the LSG. Though many plots have been cleared and their arbors dismantled, legal disputes arose, with some allotment gardeners successfully contesting the termination in court. Presently, certain residents are voicing opposition to the electric fences erected for the commercial keeping of water buffalo, goats, and sheep. These fences encompass several former recreational areas, and allotment gardeners have been granted the right to use them.


Transport project German Unity 17

Various factors such as the reduction of the Spree inflows in
Lusatia Lusatia (; ; ; ; ; ), otherwise known as Sorbia, is a region in Central Europe, formerly entirely in Germany and today territorially split between Germany and modern-day Poland. Lusatia stretches from the Bóbr and Kwisa rivers in the eas ...
(the water volume that the Spree fed to the Havel was more than twice as high as that of the Havel itself at its mouth until 1990, 38 m³/s compared to 15 m³/s) or the deepening of the Havel led to a lowering of the Havel water level since 1990. Additionally, the deteriorating flood dynamics have resulted in limited accessibility of the small remaining area for pike, making it possible only during specific years. For instance, prior to 1990, the water level of 29.55 meters above sea level was undercut on 220 days per year, whereas in the 2000s, it reached about 310 days per year. Meanwhile, the water level in the Havel has been reduced to a minimum. The transport project "German Unity" 17 (VDE No. 17) has posed a major threat to the flood dynamics of the Tiefwerder Wiesen. This project involves the expansion of waterways to accommodate barges up to 2000 tons, with an unloading depth of up to 2.8 meters to access the western harbor. The federal waterway link
Rühen Rühen () is a municipality in the district of Gifhorn, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The Municipality Rühen includes the villages of Brechtorf, Eischott and Rühen. History Between 1945 and 1990 Rühen served as West German inner German border cro ...
-
Magdeburg Magdeburg (; ) is the Capital city, capital of the Germany, German States of Germany, state Saxony-Anhalt. The city is on the Elbe river. Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor and founder of the Archbishopric of Mag ...
- Berlin - which is highly controversial for ecological reasons, includes expanding the Lower Havel Waterway, the Elbe-Havel Canal, and the straightening of a section of the
Spree River Spree may refer to: Film and television * '' The Spree'', a 1998 American television film directed by Tommy Lee Wallace * ''Spree'' (film), a 2020 American film starring Joe Keery * "Spree" (''Numbers''), an episode of the television show ''Numb ...
. The entire stretch was to be dredged to a depth of four meters and, depending on the bank profile, to a water level width of 42–55 meters (up to 72 meters in curves). According to an interim report from the
Berlin House of Representatives The of Berlin (House of Representatives) () is the state parliament (''Landtag'') of Berlin, Germany according to the city-state's constitution. In 1993, the parliament moved from Rathaus Schöneberg to its present house on Niederkirchnerstraße ...
in February 2009, the transport project could lead to a drop in water levels, resulting in changes to the flooding dynamics of the Tiefwerder Wiesen. It is predicted that water levels might decrease by 1 to a maximum of 13 cm, depending on the discharge situation of low, medium, or high water. As a result, the meadows might no longer experience the same natural flooding patterns they currently do. Despite facing opposition and objections, there are plans to proceed with the project. In response, the state of Berlin aims to protect the Tiefwerder Wiesen by implementing compensatory measures, including artificial irrigation using water from the Havel and the construction of
fish ladder A fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass, fish steps, or fish cannon, is a structure on or around artificial and natural barriers (such as dams, locks and waterfalls) to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration as well as mov ...
s. The Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration planned to do this:


Flora and fauna

The description of the species-rich flora and fauna of the Tiefwerder Wiesen refers to the population of the 2000s.


Plants and plant communities


Sedge reeds and reeds

The flooded tall
sedge The Cyperaceae () are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as wikt:sedge, sedges. The family (biology), family is large; botanists have species description, described some 5,500 known species in about 90 ...
meadows that long dominated the Tiefwerder Wiesen are declining due to increasingly infrequent
flooding A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are of significant concern in agriculture, civi ...
. However, the riparian sedge, growing up to two meters tall, can still be found along the water bodies' edges. Instead, the wet meadow areas and fallows are now characterized by slender sedge meadows from the sedge genus. The main plant in this community is the slender sedge, a
perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...
,
herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition o ...
that can reach heights between 30 and 150 cm. In the siltation areas, it is joined by the bladder sedge, which is endangered in Berlin and occasionally forms a hybrid with the slender sedge. The slender sedge reed has a long survival capacity with increasing drainage but is displaced by reed
canary grass Canary grass is a plant, ''Phalaris canariensis'', belonging to the family Poaceae. Originally a native of the Mediterranean region, it is now grown commercially in several parts of the world for birdseed. Description ''Phalaris canariensis'' ...
in areas of better-aerated soils. Extensive water swath reeds, also known as giant swaths or sweetgrass, dominate the wetter parts of the meadow, often forming pure stands. These sweetgrass plants can grow up to two meters high. From May to July, the cuckoo campion adds pink flowers and stands up to 60 cm tall in the sedge and reed-rich areas of the meadow.
Pennywort Pennywort is a common name given to several different plants around the world. In general they have round leaves and a low-growing habit. Pennywort may refer to: * In Asia: the edible Asiatic pennywort, ''Centella asiatica'', also known as centell ...
and yellow-flowered marsh marigolds also bloom in this period, while the marsh marigold might also have a weaker second flowering phase between July and October. Later in the season, the meadow rue with yellow buttercups (June to August) and poison buttercups, especially in June, contribute to the yellow flowering display. From July to September, the dark purple flowers of the marsh thistle add contrast to the yellow blooms.Informationstafel vor Ort, Naturschutz- und Grünflächenamt Spandau, Stand: 1996 In early summer, wild rose shrubs like the dog rose showcase many light pink flowers along the paths and shrubbery edges.


Reed belt and floodplain forest relics

In the vast
reed Reed or Reeds may refer to: Science, technology, biology, and medicine * Reed bird (disambiguation) * Reed pen, writing implement in use since ancient times * Reed (plant), one of several tall, grass-like wetland plants of the order Poales * Re ...
and
cattail ''Typha'' is a genus of about 30 species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Typhaceae. These plants have a variety of common names, in British English as bulrushStreeter D, Hart-Davies C, Hardcastle A, Cole F, Harper L. 2009. ...
belts of the river arms and ditches, one can experience a beautiful array of colors provided by sporadic purple loosestrife, marsh zest, and the water
iris Iris most often refers to: *Iris (anatomy), part of the eye * Iris (color), an ambiguous color term *Iris (mythology), a Greek goddess * ''Iris'' (plant), a genus of flowering plants * Iris (given name), a feminine given name, and a list of peopl ...
, which is classified as species protected under the Bundesartenschutzverordnung (BArtSchV) (Federal Species Protection Ordinance). The delicate hues of violet-red, burgundy, whitish, and yellow color create a picturesque landscape. The open riparian areas and watercourse edges are characterized by
willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, of the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 350 species (plus numerous hybrids) of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions. Most species are known ...
bushes and floodplain forest relics, including silver willow and fluttering elm. Especially at the Havelaltarm Toter Mantel, which extends to Heerstraße, a softwood floodplain is preserved. In the zones with rich herbaceous flora, plants like the
marsh fern ''Thelypteris palustris'', the marsh fern, or eastern marsh fern, is a species of fern native to eastern North America and across Eurasia. It prefers to grow in swamps, bogs, wet fields or thickets, fresh tidal and nontidal marshes, or wooded str ...
''(Theylpteris palustris)'',
marsh ragwort ''Jacobaea aquatica'' or ''Senecio aquaticus'', the water ragwort or marsh ragwort, is a plant of the family Asteraceae. It is a perennial or biennial plant: young plants form a rosette near the ground, eventually producing a taller flowering sh ...
, stiff sedge, and common loosestrife, which was formerly administered in folk medicine for
scurvy Scurvy is a deficiency disease (state of malnutrition) resulting from a lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Early symptoms of deficiency include weakness, fatigue, and sore arms and legs. Without treatment, anemia, decreased red blood cells, gum d ...
,
diarrhea Diarrhea (American English), also spelled diarrhoea or diarrhœa (British English), is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements in a day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration d ...
, and
fever Fever or pyrexia in humans is a symptom of an anti-infection defense mechanism that appears with Human body temperature, body temperature exceeding the normal range caused by an increase in the body's temperature Human body temperature#Fever, s ...
. Originally from the
Himalayas The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than list of h ...
, the
balsam Balsam is the resinous exudate (or sap) which forms on certain kinds of trees and shrubs. Balsam (from Latin ''balsamum'' "gum of the balsam tree," ultimately from a Semitic source such as ) owes its name to the biblical Balm of Gilead. Ch ...
is spreading strongly on wet, nutrient-rich meadows, forming dense stands of dominance. The fast-growing and rapidly multiplying
neophyte A neophyte is a recent initiate or convert to a subject or belief. Neophyte may also refer to: Science * Neophyte (botany), a plant species recently introduced to an area As a proper noun Arts and entertainment * Neophyte, a character class ...
was first imported to
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
from
Kashmir Kashmir ( or ) is the Northwestern Indian subcontinent, northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term ''Kashmir'' denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir P ...
in 1839, from where it reached the European continent as an
ornamental plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...
. It belongs to the heterosporous plants, which were deliberately introduced ethelochor. Similar to other water lily plants, the yellow pond lily, which is protected in
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
, covers large areas of open water with floating foliage. Rich yellow, hermaphroditic flowers 4 to 12 cm in diameter protrude from its sea of green leaves.


Animals

The Tiefwerder-Wiesen biotope provides a diverse habitat for
fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...
,
amphibian Amphibians are ectothermic, anamniote, anamniotic, tetrapod, four-limbed vertebrate animals that constitute the class (biology), class Amphibia. In its broadest sense, it is a paraphyletic group encompassing all Tetrapod, tetrapods, but excl ...
s,
reptile Reptiles, as commonly defined, are a group of tetrapods with an ectothermic metabolism and Amniotic egg, amniotic development. Living traditional reptiles comprise four Order (biology), orders: Testudines, Crocodilia, Squamata, and Rhynchocepha ...
s,
insect Insects (from Latin ') are Hexapoda, hexapod invertebrates of the class (biology), class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (Insect morphology#Head, head, ...
s,
bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...
s, and mammals such as bats and the
beaver Beavers (genus ''Castor'') are large, semiaquatic rodents of the Northern Hemisphere. There are two existing species: the North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') and the Eurasian beaver (''C. fiber''). Beavers are the second-large ...
, which has now become a permanent resident after several guest visits.


Fishes

The significance of the Tiefwerder Wiesen as a pike spawning ground lies in the
oviposition The ovipositor is a tube-like organ used by some animals, especially insects, for the laying of eggs. In insects, an ovipositor consists of a maximum of three pairs of appendages. The details and morphology of the ovipositor vary, but typica ...
of the
predatory fish Predatory fish are hypercarnivorous fish that actively prey upon other fish or aquatic animals, with examples including shark, billfish, barracuda, alligator gar, tuna, dolphinfish, walleye, perch and salmon. Some omnivorous fish, such as t ...
. From March to May, the substrate spawner seeks out flooded floodplain meadows or shallow shore areas of standing waters. Here, the pike carefully attaches its eggs to water plants, roots, or branches. While the second traditional Berlin pike spawning meadow at Parschenkessel on
Pfaueninsel Pfaueninsel (, "Peacock Island") is an island in the River Havel situated in Berlin-Wannsee, in the district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf in southwestern Berlin, near the border with Potsdam in Brandenburg. The island is part of the Palaces and Parks ...
became inaccessible to the pike years ago, the fish have also been unable to reach Tiefwerder Wiesen since 1990. "With water depths of less than 5 centimeters, it is only possible for juvenile fish to swim through the connection from the main ditch. However, in wetter years, some old fish can manage to do this, ensuring successful spawning in the Tiefwerder Wiesen." Measuring up to 1.5 meters long, the pike preys on
whitefish Whitefish or white fish may refer to: Fish * Whitefish (fisheries term), referring to species commercially caught in the North Atlantic * Freshwater whitefish, members of the subfamily Coregoninae in the family Salmonidae, including: ** Atlant ...
species such as
roach Roach or The Roach may refer to: Animals * Cockroach, various insect species of the order Blattodea * Common roach (''Rutilus rutilus''), a fresh and brackish water fish of the family Cyprinidae ** ''Rutilus'' or roaches, a genus of fishes * Cal ...
,
white bream ''Blicca'' is a monospecific genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae. The only species in the genus is ''Blicca bjoerkna'', the white bream or silver bream. This species is found in Europe and Western Asia. Distr ...
, and
rudd ''Scardinius'' is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Leuciscidae, which includes the daces, Eurasian minnows and related species. The fishes in this genus are commonly called rudds. Locally, the name "rudd" without ...
, which are known for peacefully coexisting and spawning in abundance in the ditches and river
oxbow lake An oxbow lake is a U-shaped lake or stream pool, pool that forms when a wide meander of a river is meander cutoff, cut off, creating a free-standing body of water. The word "oxbow" can also refer to a U-shaped bend in a river or stream, whether ...
s, just like river perch. Similarly, the protected
turbot The turbot ( ) ''Scophthalmus maximus'' is a relatively large species of flatfish in the family Scophthalmidae. It is a demersal fish native to marine or brackish waters of the Northeast Atlantic, Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It is a ...
, under Annex II of the Fauna-Flora-Habitat (FFH) (Habitats Directive), searches for food only at night and burrows into the bottom during the day, with only its head and tail protruding. Another species of concern, the asp, a member of the carp family, gather in small schools as juveniles but develops into solitary fish as adults. For this fish, survival relies on the accessibility and patency of waterways.


Mammals

The
otter Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine. Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines, among ...
, occasionally spotted in the Tiefwerder Wiesen, finds its ideal habitat in the shallow, fish-rich Havelaltarms and the flood plains. This aquatic
marten A marten is a weasel-like mammal in the genus ''Martes'' within the subfamily Guloninae, in the family Mustelidae. They have bushy tails and large paws with partially retractile claws. The fur varies from yellowish to dark brown, depending on ...
species is listed as threatened on the Berlin
Red List of Endangered Species The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is an inventory of the global conservation status and extinction risk of biological spe ...
(as of 2003) and is strictly protected under the Bundesartenschutzverordnung (BArtSchV) (Federal Ordinance on the Protection of Species). Despite special surveys and conversation efforts by the state of Berlin to safeguard its population, uncertainties persist about the otter's ability to establish a stable presence in Berlin. Their habitats are constrained by bank construction, water pollution, recreational pressure, and potential losses from traffic and fish traps. Similarly, the
beaver Beavers (genus ''Castor'') are large, semiaquatic rodents of the Northern Hemisphere. There are two existing species: the North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') and the Eurasian beaver (''C. fiber''). Beavers are the second-large ...
also holds the same protection status and has been native to the Upper Havel and Lake Tegel since 1994 as a "true new citizen" with several beaver burrows. From Lake Tegel, the
rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...
visited the Tiefwerder Wiesen down the Havel several times as a guest. In the meantime (as of 2008), beavers are said to have settled permanently in Tiefwerder. The Tiefwerder Wiesen serves as a nurturing ground for various wildlife, including
fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...
es and
badger Badgers are medium-sized short-legged omnivores in the superfamily Musteloidea. Badgers are a polyphyletic rather than a natural taxonomic grouping, being united by their squat bodies and adaptions for fossorial activity rather than by the ...
s. However, the abundant presence of wild boars has become a concern, with the Senate Department for Urban Development citing their burrowing activity as a contributing factor to the decline of the tall sedge meadows. For the planned designation of the landscape conservation area as a nature reserve, the state of Berlin conducted investigations on the bat fauna in the Tiefwerder Wiesen and Pichelswerder in 2007.
Bat Bats are flying mammals of the order Chiroptera (). With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most birds, flying with their very long spread-out ...
s such as the greater mouse-eared bat (strictly protected according to the BArtSchV and listed in Annex II of the Fauna-Flora-Habitat-Richtlinie (FFH) (Habitats Directive); downgraded in Berlin 2003 from endangered to critically endangered) and the water bat (upgraded in Berlin 2003 from endangered to critically endangered) frequently use the Havel channel as a flight path and hunting ground. These nocturnal and highly social bats seek out the insect-rich Tiefwerder Wiesen for hunting, starting from their roosts in places like the Citadel or the old walls on Pfaueninsel.


Insects

Among the insects, the presence of the black cobwater beetle ''(Hydrophilus aterrimus)'' in the Tiefwerder is noteworthy, as it is highly endangered in Berlin. This heat-loving
water beetle A water beetle is a generalized name for any beetle that is adapted to living in water at any point in its life cycle. Most water beetles can only live in fresh water, with a few marine species that live in the intertidal zone or littoral zone. T ...
, strictly protected under the Bundesartenschutzverordnung (BNatSchG), strongly resembles the large water beetle, and prefers larger, mostly perennial waters in sunny areas. Although many waters are suitable for adult large beetles (length up to five centimeters), they are not suitable for their
larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...
e. Especially the 1st and 2nd larval stages require extremely shallow, vegetated, and undisturbed shallow water areas. The young larvae, supported by plant growth, lift their food (small aquatic snails) out of the water to predigest it outside their body. Several
weevil Weevils are beetles belonging to the superfamily Curculionoidea, known for their elongated snouts. They are usually small – less than in length – and herbivorous. Approximately 97,000 species of weevils are known. They belong to several fa ...
species were last recorded in the Tiefwerder Wiesen in the 1980s and early 1990s. Since intensive searches did not yield any further findings, the small beetles (1.3–20 mm) are mostly considered lost in Berlin. Among them are the shore weevil (''Ceutorhynchus scapularis''; last record August 1985, one specimen), the hollow-toothed weevil (''Datonychus angulosus''; May 1990, four specimens), the suture-striped catkin weevil (''Dorytomus hirtipennis''; February 1991, fifteen specimens found in the bark scales of a silver willow), and the broad silky weevil (''Smicronyx smreczynskii''; June 1989, one specimen). The silt weevil (''Pelenomus velaris)'', which prefers vegetation-free, periodically flooded, waterlogged sand and mud areas, and its developing plant is not known. It was recorded in Berlin for the first and last time in May 1990 with one specimen. In December 2003, a specimen of the brown-red willow weevil ''(Ellescus infirmus)'' was found for the first time on the sieve (soil sample) of a willow in the Tiefwerder Wiesen.


Other animals

The reedbeds of the Tiefwerder Wiesen are home to the grass frog, which is specially protected under the BNatSchG, but since a good population trend was noted as early as 1991, it is no longer classified as endangered on the current Berlin Red List of 2003. The
grass snake The grass snake (''Natrix natrix''), sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake, is a Eurasian semi-aquatic non- venomous colubrid snake. It is often found near water and feeds almost exclusively on amphibians. Subspecies Many subspecie ...
, however, remains endangered in Berlin. It also finds its preferred habitat in the area: structurally rich wetlands, both aquatic and terrestrial.
Grey heron The grey heron (''Ardea cinerea'') is a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia, and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more norther ...
s are a common sight as they linger in the meadows before their autumn migration south to feed. The Tiefwerder Wiesen also serves rare and endangered bird species as breeding, migratory, and wintering grounds. For example, the
kingfisher Kingfishers are a family, the Alcedinidae, of small to medium-sized, brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species living in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Oceania, ...
, which is highly endangered in Berlin, can occasionally be seen. Due to its endangerment, this species, which is strictly protected under the BNatSchG, has already been voted Bird of the Year twice in Germany, in 1973 and 2009. The sedge meadows,
reeds Reed or Reeds may refer to: Science, technology, biology, and medicine * Reed bird (disambiguation) * Reed pen, writing implement in use since ancient times * Reed (plant), one of several tall, grass-like wetland plants of the order Poales * Re ...
, and tall grasses are home to pond
warbler Various Passeriformes (perching birds) are commonly referred to as warblers. They are not necessarily closely related to one another, but share some characteristics, such as being fairly small, vocal, and insectivorous. Sylvioid warblers T ...
,
marsh warbler The marsh warbler (''Acrocephalus palustris'') is an Old World warbler currently classified in the family Acrocephalidae. It breeds in temperate Europe and the western Palearctic and winters mainly in southeast Africa. It is notable for incorpor ...
,
dunnock The dunnock (''Prunella modularis'') is a small passerine, or perching bird, found throughout temperate Europe and into Asian Russia. Dunnocks have also been successfully introduced into New Zealand. It is the most widespread member of the acce ...
,
coot Coots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family, Rallidae. They constitute the genus ''Fulica'', the name being the Latin term for "coot". Coots have predominantly black plumage, and—unlike many rails—they are usual ...
, and
little grebe The little grebe (''Tachybaptus ruficollis''), also known as dabchick, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. The genus name is from Ancient Greek ''takhus'' "fast" and ''bapto'' "to sink under". The specific ''ruficollis'' is from Latin ...
, among others. The bird of the year 1983, the sand martin, is also found in the Tiefwerder Wiesen. Its young birds congregate in large numbers on roosts in the reeds and willow thickets after leaving the breeding burrows.


Nature conservation and trails


Protected areas and maintenance measures

With the Ordinance for the Protection of Landscape Parts in the District of Spandau of Berlin, the Tieferwerder Wiesen has been designated as a Landschaftsschutz or LSG (protected landscape area). Today, it is listed as No.24 and it covers an area of 66.69 ha. Since 2007, the state has been considering raising its protection status as a nature reserve. Due to its proximity to the Tiefwerder
waterworks Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavors or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Public water supply systems are crucial to properly functioning societies. Thes ...
, which supply drinking water to six Berlin districts, significant portions of the LSG are part of the narrower water protection zone II. The Senate Department of Urban Development and Environmental Protection stated the target in the 1994 Landscape Program and Species Conservation Program: The main focus of preservation and protection measures within the landscape conservation area is to maintain
flood A flood is an overflow of water (list of non-water floods, or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are of significant con ...
dynamics. This may involve artificial irrigation of the Tiefwerder Wiesen with Havel water and the construction of
fish ladder A fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass, fish steps, or fish cannon, is a structure on or around artificial and natural barriers (such as dams, locks and waterfalls) to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration as well as mov ...
s if necessary. Another priority is preserving the softwood meadows, especially for the beaver population after removing dams, roads, arbors, and bank obstructions. Since 2014, regular maintenance mowing has stopped, and instead, a conservation approach using Asian
water buffalo The water buffalo (''Bubalus bubalis''), also called domestic water buffalo, Asian water buffalo and Asiatic water buffalo, is a large bovid originating in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Today, it is also kept in Italy, the Balkans ...
, sheep, and goats has been adopted to manage the meadows and conserve the ecosystem. These animals are protected and kept effective by enclosing the meadows with electric fences, preventing access by residents and visitors. Additionally, forestry measures are planned to develop the adjacent Pichelswerder forest into a near-natural mixed
oak forest An oak forest is a plant community with a tree canopy dominated by oaks (''Quercus spp.''). In terms of canopy closure, oak forests contain the most closed canopy, compared to oak savannas and oak woodlands. Setting Oak forests are categoriz ...
.


Road network and connection to Berlin's green corridors

A circular trail provides access to the central wetland. A plank footbridge about 200 meters long, built in 1996, leads through the wet meadows, while wooden bridges guide over several ditches and the Totes Mantel. An additional long footbridge over the Kleiner Jürgengraben connects the meadows with the Dorfstraße in Tiefwerder and two footpaths with the Heerstraße. Towards the south, the area is linked to the Havel Heights Trail via Pichelswerder and the Grunewald, while to the east, it connects to the natural area of the Murellenberge and the Ruhleben flowing meadow at the Teltownord edge. In 2004, the Senate Department for Urban Development proposed an elevated path on the edge of the Teltownord as part of a plan for the western region of
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
. This path would create an almost continuous green corridor, starting from the Tiefwerder Wiesen, passing via
Charlottenburg Palace Schloss Charlottenburg (Charlottenburg Palace) is a Baroque palace in Berlin, located in Charlottenburg, a district of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough, and is among the largest palaces in the world. The palace was built at the end of th ...
and the Großer Tiergarten to the western part of the city. In 2007,
DB ProjektBau DB ProjektBau GmbH was a German company that carried out and supported large-scale railway projects for Germany's national rail carrier, Deutsche Bahn (, ; abbreviated as DB or DB AG ) is the national railway company of Germany, and a s ...
also completed the Bullengraben Green Corridor as a nature conservation compensation measure for the adverse effects on nature and the landscape caused by the construction project for the high-speed rail line between
Hanover Hanover ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the States of Germany, German state of Lower Saxony. Its population of 535,932 (2021) makes it the List of cities in Germany by population, 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-l ...
and Berlin. The Bullengraben green corridor runs about 4.5 kilometers west of
Staaken Staaken () is a locality at the western rim of Berlin within the borough of Spandau. History First mentioned in a 1273 deed as ''Stakene'' (from Middle Low German: ''staken'', "stakes") in the Mittelmark region of the Margraviate of Brandenbur ...
along the Havel River. To further enhance the green corridor and connect it to Tiefwerder and the Tiefwerdre Wiesen, the Senate administration proposed the construction of a pedestrian footbridge across the river, as the Bullengraben green corridor meets the Havel only about one kilometer north of the village of Tiefwerder.


The Tiefwerder meadows in the Havel biotope network

The biotope network is recognized for its vital role in linking habitats for the conservation of endangered species and has been anchored as a new conservation goal in the Naturschutzgesetz or NSG (Nature Conservation Act). The Havel River and its continuity are of immense importance for migrating
fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...
, as a flight path for
bat Bats are flying mammals of the order Chiroptera (). With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most birds, flying with their very long spread-out ...
s, as a breeding, migration, and wintering area for birds, and as a migration route for
beaver Beavers (genus ''Castor'') are large, semiaquatic rodents of the Northern Hemisphere. There are two existing species: the North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') and the Eurasian beaver (''C. fiber''). Beavers are the second-large ...
s and
otter Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine. Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines, among ...
s. Recognizing its significance, Berlin's nature conservation associations included the Havel as a connecting landscape element in their list of proposals for the re-registration of protected areas under Article 10 of the European Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive (FFH) for the state of Berlin in 2000. In Berlin alone, the Havel River links ten landscape protection areas and three nature conservation areas, including the Imchen Island near Kladow NSG, the Pfaueninsel NSG, and the Spandauer Forst LSG. Along its course, it connects existing FFH areas such as the Uckermärkische Seenlandschaft or the Tegeler Fließ, as well as designated SPA areas like the Havelländisches Luch or the lowlands of the lower Havel. Together with the adjacent luch landscapes such as Rhinluch, Havelländisches Luch, Dossebruch and Jäglitzniederung, the lower Havel lowlands form the largest contiguous inland wetland in western-Central Europe. Within this extensive biotope network, the centrally located Tiefwerder Wiesen plays a crucial role as an inner-city link and acts as a " stepping stone for crossing the urban area" for many species.


See also

*
Pichelswerder Pichelswerder is a river island located in the Havel River within the Berlin district of Wilhelmstadt, which is part of the Spandau district. Location Pichelswerder Island is located between Pichelssee (Lake Pichels) and Stößensee (Lake Stö ...
*
Tiefwerder Tiefwerder encompasses both a village and a Werder along the Havel River in the Berlin district of Spandau. While the village of Tiefwerder, along with the neighboring southern port of Spandau, falls under the jurisdiction of the district of Span ...


References


Further reading

* ''Biotoptypen- und FFH-Lebenraumtypenkartierung für das NSG Murellenschlucht und Schanzenwald, NSG Fließwiese Ruhleben und angrenzende Bereiche''. Auftraggeber: Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung, Planland (Planungsgruppe Landschaftsentwicklung), Berlin 2006. * . * . * H. J. Mahnkopf: ''Tiefwerder – Hechtlaichwiesen. Der Hecht als „Umweltschützer“''. In: Berliner Naturschutzblätter, Berlin 1988, Jg. 32, pp. 10–12. * {{Citation , last=Winfried Schich , title=Die Havel als Wasserstraße im Mittelalter: Brücken, Dämme, Mühlen, Flutrinnen , url=https://edoc.hu-berlin.de/humboldt-vl/schich-winfried/PDF/Schich.pdf , url-status=dead , publisher=Antrittsvorlesung an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philosophische Fakultät I, Institut für Geschichtswissenschaften, 24. November 1992 , access-date=2023-07-30 , archive-date=2012-01-30 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130222630/http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/humboldt-vl/schich-winfried/PDF/Schich.pdf .


External links


Commons: Tiefwerder Wiesen
 - Collection of images, videos and audio files.
Landscape protection area Tiefwerder Wiesen
Senate Department for Urban Development.
Ordinance for the protection of parts of the landscape in the Spandau district of Berlin (Tiefwerder Wiesen)
'.'' From September 12, 1960. Senate Department for Urban Development.
VDE 17 – A chance for the Tiefwerder meadows
'.'' Press release of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, Waterways New Construction Office Berlin, June 26, 2008. Havel basin Spree basin Endangered species Charlottenburg Floodplains of Europe