Spreewald Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1991, in Germany. The UNESCO Spreewald Biosphere Reserve, whose name means “forest along the River Spree”, is a unique landscape in Central Europe, situated about 100 km south-east of Berlin. Shaped during the last ice age, it forms a vast inland delta around the River Spree. The area comprises meadows, forests and fens, but its distinctive feature is more than 276 km of navigable channels. The channels, rivers and their surroundings provide habitat for many animal and plant species. Farmers continue the tradition of using the channels for fishing and transport, and many tourists explore the region on traditional Spree Forest punting boats (the Spreewaldkahn) or by canoe.