Die Reit

Summary

If you fancy strolling through a huge terrarium surrounded by its amphibious inhabitants, don't miss a spring walk along the Reitdeich. An army of frogs and toads hop, jump and crawl across the crest of the dyke to move from their winter quarters to their spawning grounds, accompanied by a chorus of powerful vocal sacs. These are strained by the Frog Prince courting an attractive female who, having taken pity on their love quacking, allows the gallant to carry her to the spawning ground without further ado.

Description

The nature reserve has always been known for its large amphibian population. The natural and artificial bodies of water and the damp forests are ideal spawning and hibernation grounds for the common toad, grass frog, moor frog and crested newt, all of which occur in large numbers. Amphibians just as birds, rich in variety and abundance, find ideal habitats in the swamp forests and large reed beds of the fen area between the Gose and Dove Elbe rivers in the Vier- und Marschlanden. The nature reserve ‘Die Reit’ is a real paradise for herpetologists and ornithologists. The lower-lying areas of the nature reserve, where a large pond and numerous smaller bodies of water adorned with pond and water lilies can be found, are dominated by reed beds. These cover over a third of the reserve's area and making them the largest of all the characteristic plant populations. The birch swamp forest inhabits the higher and therefore drier areas of the northern part of the nature reserve. There are many fallen trees covered in fungi and mosses here, providing ideal living conditions for a diverse range of small animals.