Читать книгу The Westweg. Through Germany's Black Forest онлайн

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During major storms, trees with shallow root systems tend to fall like matchsticks. Of course, a storm with the ferocity of Lothar (gusts of over 200km per hour were measured on Feldberg) has the power to flatten anything. But the effect was particularly devastating due to the predominance of these types of trees. Even now, the aftermath of the storm can be observed on many exposed hillsides. It has transformed the terrain and galvanised a shift in forest management. Today more effort is invested in making the forest more climate resilient by planting a variety of species and especially more native deciduous trees. Gradually the forest is changing and returning to something resembling its original ecology.

The growing stands of mixed deciduous trees in the southern Black Forest have created an ambience that is quite different to that of the northern parts, where conifers still dominate and many storm-ravaged areas remain; where dead trees form bizarre sculptures amid young growth but open views still prevail.