Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park
| Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park | |
|---|---|
|
IUCN category II (national park) | |
 | |
  Map of the Netherlands | |
| Location | Utrecht Province, Netherlands |
| Nearest city | Veenendaal |
| Coordinates | 52°01′30″N 5°26′13″E / 52.025°N 5.437°ECoordinates: 52°01′30″N 5°26′13″E / 52.025°N 5.437°E[1] |
| Area | 6,000 ha (15,000 acres) |
| Established | 2003 |
| http://www.np-utrechtseheuvelrug.nl/documents/home.xml | |
Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park is a national park in the Dutch province of Utrecht, founded in 2003. The park covers 6,000 ha (15,000 acres) of heathlands, shifting sands, forests, grass lands and floodplains, but most striking is the moraine.
Landscape and history
The landscape of the park dates from the next-to-last ice age, Saalien. Afterwards the land was made by the drifting sands, the rivers and the effects of human occupation. This led to a wide variety of soil types, relief and land use.
Flora and fauna
The area is the second largest forest in the Netherlands. In the forest some relics from the original post-Glacial forests can be found, including oak and beech. In the park we find several marten species such as the European Badger (Meles meles). There are more than 100 breeds of bird in the park, as well as several amphibian, reptile bat, butterflies and dragonflies species.
Management
Responsible for the management of the park are Staatsbosbeheer, the private provincial nature conservation organization Het Utrechts Landschap and the national private organization for nature management Natuurmonumenten, together with many private land owners. Management plans are made together with these owners, the authorities and stakeholders.
One of the main aims of management is countering the fragmentation. To do so, several ecoducts are constructed or planned to connect the nature reserves. One hopes that this enables the migration of large animals such as deer.
Recreation
In the national park are many trails for walking, biking and horse riding, as well as restaurants, hotels and camp sites. Interesting places to visit are many castles, historic villages and cities, country houses, tobacco barns and sheepfolds.
References
- ↑ "Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park". protectedplanet.net.
External links
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