Havelland Luch

The luch, a former marshland, lies in a basin that is part of the Berlin urstromtal, a meltwater valley that was formed here during the Weichselian glaciation about 18,000 years ago.

Mounds of ground moraine, more than ten metres high, pierce the surface of the luch, especially in the south, between the Nauen Plateau and the Ländchen Friesack.

Such dune regions include, for example, several high points near Paulinenaue in the centre, parts of the Nauen municipal forest on the eastern edge and the Zootzen on the northwestern perimeter of the luch.

Together with the Fiener Bruch and the Belziger Landschaftswiesen the nature reserve forms one of the last German refuges for the endangered great bustard.

Both during the construction phase from the end of 1996 and on the completed track special conservation measures have been taken so as not to endanger the habitat of the great bustard and other species of bird.