Everyone knows the images of the Iron Curtain, the impregnable border that divided Europe into east and west for decades. A zone of tens of meters was built on both sides of the wall, also called the Death Strip. It was an area where no humans could come and where nature was in full control. That is precisely why, after the removal of the wall, all kinds of rare plant and animal species appear in the zone. It also serves as a green connecting zone throughout Europe. It has been protected for several years and is known as the ‘European Green Belt’ (Green Belt).
Creation of the ‘Green Belt’
The Green Belt is a zone of 12,500 km that crosses 24 countries, from the Russian-Finnish border to the Mediterranean Sea near Greece and the Black Sea near Bulgaria. The zone represents the former Iron Curtain, which separated the Soviet Union from Western Europe during the time of the Cold War. The initiative to protect the former separation zone was taken in 2002 by German conservation organizations during the opening of a monument in memory of the Iron Curtain. Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was appointed patron of the zone. In the years that followed, consultations were also held in countries such as Austria, Hungary and Slovenia about protecting the Green Belt. In 2005 the German part was designated as a national heritage.
The Green Belt brings two worlds together in a unique way; nature and historical heritage. First, the function of nature is discussed in detail, and later on we will discuss the most beautiful places to experience the history of the cold war.
Nature
For animals and plants, a large habitat and exchange are of great importance for their survival. If the habitat is too small, they will not be able to get enough and / or good food. Also, it will not be able to maintain genetic variation, leading to inbreeding. The added value that the Green Belt has compared to an average nature reserve lies in connecting different habitats of animals. Due to the growth of cities, the construction of roads and the emergence of large-scale and one-sided agricultural areas, more and more nature reserves in Europe have lost their connections. The Green Belt ensures that the animals can exchange between the areas again.
In the Netherlands, a similar plan is known under the name Ecological Main Structure (EHS), for which, among other things, ecoducts have been built that offer animals a crossing over a highway. A wide network of ecological connections was once designed for the Netherlands, but was largely scrapped in the period 2010-2015.
On the road in nature
In addition to nature conservation, a lot of attention is also paid to the experience of the Green Belt. Therefore there is not only a lot of beautiful nature, there is also a lot to see and do.
1. Baltic Sea coast
Here you can enjoy sandbanks, coastal inlets, dunes, cliffs and salt marshes. Animals such as the porpoise, the imposing sea eagle and the sea lamprey live there.
2. Elbe river and southern Altmark
This area is a flat rural region full of fences, ditches and forests where, among other things, the crane and nightjar live. Guided tours are given by volunteers from the nature organization BUND, who can tell you all about the ecology and history of the area.
3. Steinach valley and Linder lowland
At the foot of the Thuringian mountains, the German nature organization BUND has started a project to preserve the Green Belt. The forest locust, whinchat and pearl mussel occur in this area.
4. Bavarian Forest and Sumava
The Bavarian Forest is known as the green roof of Europe. In and around the lakes and fens are countless rare animal species such as the Lynx, Black Grouse Birds and the Pearl Mussel. It is a national park, so it is not freely accessible everywhere.
5. Neusiedler more
Lake Neusiedl is a steppe lake located between Hungary and Austria and is unique in Europe. The lake has a shallow depth and is characterized by reed beds and brackish, muddy water. The climate is mild and windy. Cows of ancient breeds graze here and it is an important area for the migration and reproduction of birds. Neusiedler Meer also played a role in what is called the ‘Pan European Picnic’, a migration of more than 600,000 citizens from east to west at the time of the fall of the wall in 1989.
6. Goricko-Raab-Orseg National Park
This is a national park on the border of Slovenia, Austria and Hungary. It is a hilly area, an area where the Pannonian Sea was located at the time of the formation of the Alps. Despite different land use, you will still find small fields, orchards and vineyards. There are also a few swamps and streams in the area.
Note: After Goricko-Raab-Orseg National Park (6) the roads separate from the Iron Curtain. Part of it goes west towards the eastern Italian border region: ‘the Karawanken (7)’. The other section leads south-east across the border between Hungary and Croatia to the floodplains of Morava (8) and the Rhodope Mountains (9).
7. Karawanken (Southern Limestone Alps)
The Karawanken are an offshoot of the Alps and are rich in lakes and streams. You will also find beech forests, valleys and different types of pine and larch as the height increases. Endangered wild flowers such as daffodils, gentians and orchids can be found in the alpine meadow. Their greatest threat is the disappearance of land use (grazing).
8. Floodplains of Morava, Danube, Mura and Drava
The floodplains of the aforementioned areas are a succession of hundreds of kilometers of wilderness. Here you will find special forests that grow on the sediments of the river, wetlands, pools with stagnant water (wheels), and deserted river beds. Several rare birds breed in this area, such as the black stork, sand martin and little tern.
Rhodope Mountains
This mountain range is mostly in Bulgaria. The abandonment of a large area around the Iron Curtain has led to many rare animal species settling here, such as the wolf, brown bear and imperial eagle. There are also several endemic plant species, that is, plant species that are found nowhere else.
History: the Iron Curtain
Many traces of the Iron Curtain can still be found in Germany. They are places where you can get a taste of the stories of the Cold War and where it comes to life. The most beautiful experiences on the former wall can be found in the Harz, Eichsfeld and the Thuringer Wald-Schiefer Mountains.
The Harz
The Harz is a low mountain range that is centrally located in Germany. This stretch of the Iron Curtain is overflowing with intriguing historical experiences. For example, there is a path across the border called the Harz border path. It is a beautiful hiking route of up to 100 kilometers with many height differences. The path runs via the river Eckar – an important pivot in the border – past the Ecker dam, straight through the border and up the Brocken (1000m +). Relics are visible along the way, such as the famous triangular border marker and a memorial stone, where a piece of wall has been preserved. At the town of Sorge you will find a museum that is completely dedicated to the time of the wall. The route is provided with route signs.
Eichsfeld
Lovers of nature and history will find what they are looking for in the Eichsfeld region. There are two museums, including the Grenzlandmuseum Eichsfeld (in Teistungen). You can take an eight-kilometer walk through the former border strip. This path leads to Herbigshagen, headquarters of the Heinz Sielmann Foundation, a well-known nature conservation organization in Germany. Along the way, you can contemplate the dark past of the Green Belt from a hill in West Ecklingerode. Here you will find a gate consisting of two trees with a stainless steel plate on the ground, with a striking seam; the symbol of the former frontier.
Thuringian Wald-Schiefer Mountains
There is a lot to do in the Thuringer Wald and the Schiefer Mountains. You can go there for walking and cycling and various professional tours are available. There is also a choice of historical routes, bird-free routes and somewhat more timid routes for deepening nature and history. This way everyone can explore the border area in their own way.