Rheinauenlandschaft

The old Rhine arms of the Southern Palatinate are still largely intact floodplain landscapes and are particularly protected. A variety of animal species can be found in these natural floodplain landscapes. In a small area, one can encounter bird species that are rarely found scattered in other landscapes. A wealth of butterfly, beetle, and dragonfly species find a refuge in the floodplain landscapes, as do rare fish species that can survive in oxygen-poor or even temporarily dried-up waters. The floodplain forests, characterized by the alternation between flooding and dry periods, create unique communities.

As natural floodplains and retention areas, which contribute to a slow drainage of water during floods, floodplain forests play an important role in flood protection. During flooding, they also help to clean the water of organic and mineral substances. Plants that grow directly by the water include the purple willow, felt-leaved willow, silver willow, grey alder, black poplar, aspen, and the glossy sedge.

In the hardwood floodplain, the higher elevations of the floodplain forest, for example, grow pedunculate oaks, ash, field and Italian elm, and field maple; in the shrub layer, among others, hawthorn, sloe, dogwood, and spurge laurel can be found.

The Hördter Rhine Marsh is the second largest in the Palatinate and one of the oldest in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Parallel to the main pond of the Rhine marsh, on the water side, lies the Leimersheimer Altrhein, which encloses the "Karlskopf" as part of the nature reserve.

The nature reserve offers an impressive example of a floodplain and backwater landscape, as has become rare along the Upper Rhine. Many rare and endangered animal and plant species live here, such as the swallowtail (Papilio machaon), the tree frog (Hyla arborea), the water lily (Nymphaea alba), the Siberian iris (Iris sibirica), and several orchid species such as the red helleborine (Cephalantera rubra). Cormorants and grey herons also nest here.

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