NSG Grietherorter Altrhein und Hafen Dornick

Summary

Grietherorter Altrhein protects a vital floodplain landscape with unique soils. It's a key breeding and resting area for rare waders and wild geese, home to diverse plants and rare fish in its oxbows and alluvial forests.

Description

The Grietherorter Altrhein protects a unique floodplain landscape in the Lower Rhine region. Here, original riverine floodplains with special soils of geological significance are preserved. The area is a vital breeding, feeding, and overwintering habitat for rare waders and meadow birds, serving as a resting place for wild geese and forming part of the international 'Lower Rhine' Ramsar wetland. It hosts diverse plant communities in moist meadows and along still waters, promoting the development of valuable alluvial forests. Protected habitats include natural oxbow lakes, muddy riverbanks, humid tall herb communities, and species-rich hay meadows, as well as priority alluvial forests. Rare fish species like Asp, European Bitterling, and Bullhead thrive here. Numerous bird species such as Bluethroat, Common Tern, Great Egret, Whooper Swan, Corn Crake, Smew, and Bewick's Swan find refuge, alongside regularly occurring migratory birds like Greater White-fronted Goose, Northern Lapwing, and Nightingale. This mosaic of habitats makes a significant contribution to preserving biodiversity.