Flora and fauna of the Soonwald Forest

The Soonwald forest is part of the Hunsrück and is one of the largest forests in Germany. Its altitude (400-600m, the highest point the Ellerspring with 657m) makes it an ideal recreation area for people looking for quiet. It is very accessible due to its more than 800km of hiking paths. One can hike here for hours without ever meeting another human being. The traces of two thousand years of human history are to be found everywhere, though. It is rough and wild without a doubt, but tender as a sunbeam upon spring green and tame as a stream bubbling over the rocks.

Mountain meadows are to be found everywhere, especially meadows of oat grass, yellow oat grass, and borstgras. These natural pastures have become sanctuaries for rare types of plants such as Arnika, Kreuzblume, Waldhyazinthe, Mondraute, Storchenschnabel und Frauenmantel. In many places there are wetlands where numerous orchid types have been preserved.

Photo:: Wild boars are naturally an integral part of the Soonwald fauna.