Steinwald

The Steinwald lies south of the Upper Franconian county town of Marktredwitz and north of Erbendorf in the district of Tirschenreuth.

These ores used to be mined, especially in the Middle Ages; today the remaining supplies are too small and too scattered to enable them to be extracted profitably.

[3] Berry bushes provide much of the ground cover, especially blueberries and cranberries, and cryptogams - lichens and mosses - are widespread.

[6] Enjoying special projection birds that would otherwise become rare such as the black storks and the capercaillie, which still occur in low numbers in the Steinwald.

On the other hand, the heavily thinned areas of forest result in a rapid transformation that helps to prevent attack by bark beetle.

This is due to the high levels of sulphur dioxide emission from the burning of brown coal in the nearby Eger Basin, to acid rain and to the many days of mist and fog.

Research to date has shown that its causes are complex and involve biotic and abiotic factors, however environmental pollution plays a significant role.

Forestry management measures include fertilising in order to counteract the lack of magnesium which causing a yellowing of the pine needles.

The High Steinwald may be reached on trails running from Neusorg, Waldershof, Marktredwitz, Poppenreuth, Fuchsmühl, Friedenfels and Erbendorf.