|
Climate of the Nahe valley
Precipitation at the source of the Nahe is much higher (900mm per year)
than at its mouth (up to 550mm per year). The average yearly
temperature at the source is around 7 degrees Celsius, while the area
of the lower Nahe averages 9.5 degrees Celsius, making it one of the
warmest and driest areas of Germany.
This climate gives rise to certain plants and groups of wildflowers
otherwise not seen in Germany: Felsheide, Steppenheide and Felsahornwald,
as well as species usually restricted to Mediterranean habitat. Characteristic
plants are Juneberry, Wild Apple and Mahaleb Cherry. Dittany, Mountain Medlar,
Feather Grass, Blue Saxifrage and Hart's Tongue Fern were already
described in detail in 1735 by Johann Christian Senckenberg of Frankfurt,
a physician and naturalist. Some types of orchids, such as the rare
Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum) belong to the botanical gems
of our latitudes. All this was known in medieval times, because
Hildegard von Bingen
(1098-1179), the most famous woman of her time, collected and
described plants along the Nahe, especially medicinal plants. Viewed from
today, it is remarkable that in the "Physica" by Hildegard von Bingen,
there are more than 250 plant types described.
Photo: Fallow deer in winter coat in the early morning
hours of a frosty but sunny November day on a meadow near the Wildenburg
castle by Kempfeld.
|
|
|
|