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Natural regions of Germany

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Major natural regions in Germany

This division of Germany into major natural regions takes account primarily of geomorphological, geological, hydrological and pedological criteria in order to divide the country into large, physical units with a common geographical basis. Political boundaries play no part in this, apart from defining the national border.

The following list shows the division of Germany into its major natural regions as classified by the Federal Office for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz) (BfN) in 1994, who have numbered these regions from D01-D73. This largely followed the previous categorization of major regional units, numbered 01-90, by Meynen[1], however, in some cases two to four old regional units have been replaced by a single new one, whilst the old North and Baltic Sea region has been split into four new ones.

In addition to a division of Germany by natural regions, the Federal authorities have also produced a division by so-called 'landscape areas' (Landschaftsräume) that is based more on human utilisation of various regions and so has clearly different boundaries.

The major natural regions of Germany according to the BfN

Germany can be divided into 3 major geographical regions: the Northern Lowland or North German Plain, the Central Uplands and the Alps running roughly west to east across the country[2].

The BfN's classification has seven major divisions and 73 natural regions. The seven major regions are: the Northeast German Plain, the Northwest German Plain, the Western Central Uplands, the Eastern Central Uplands, the South German Scarplands[3][2] and Alpine Foreland as well as the North and Baltic Seas.

The BfN's 73 natural regions listed below in numerical order together with their English names. The old numbering system is shown in brackets after the name. Where several old regional units have been grouped into one new region, the old units are shown under their new regional name and their location inside the new region is given.


The English names of natural regions are primarily based on Dickinson (1964)[3] and Elkins (1972)[2] where their divisions correspond closely to the BfN's. In such cases the source of the English name is referenced.

Northeast German Plain

Northwest German Plain

Western Central Uplands

Eastern Central Uplands

South German Scarplands[3][2]

Alpine Foreland[2] and Alps

North and Baltic Seas

References

  1. ^ Meynen (1959-62)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao Elkins (1972).
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av Dickinson (1964).

Sources

  • Dickinson, Robert E. (1964). Germany: A regional and economic geography (2nd ed.). London: Methuen. p. 84.
  • Elkins, T.H. (1972). Germany (3rd ed.). London: Chatto & Windus, 1972. ASIN B0011Z9KJA.
  • Incorporation of the old major geographical units 010-903 into the new natural regions D01-D73 by the BfN
  • Meynen, Emil (Hrsg.) Handbuch der naturräumlichen Gliederung Deutschlands. Selbstverlag der Bundesanstalt für Landeskunde, Remagen 1953-1962 (Teil 1, enthält Lieferung 1-5), ISBN B0000BJ19E
  • Meynen, Emil (Hrsg.) Handbuch der naturräumlichen Gliederung Deutschlands. Selbstverlag der Bundesanstalt für Landeskunde, Remagen 1959-1962 (Teil 2, enthält Lieferung 6-9), ISBN B0000BJ19F
  • Ssymank, A. Neue Anforderungen im europäischen Naturschutz. Das Schutzgebietssystem Natura 2000 und die "FFH-Richtlinie der EU". – Zeitschrift „Natur und Landschaft“ Jg. 69. 1994, Heft 9: S. 395-406. Bonn-Bad Godesberg. ISSN 0028-0615

See also

External links

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