Hermannsburg Nature Park Südheide: Where kingfishers and otters say "Goodnight" (day tours)

The
Oertze - a natural heath river

The Oertze is a still very natural heath river with a high biodiversity. The ecological quality of this water body
becomes apparent in the presence of rare species such as the kingfisher and the otter. To watch the shy and mostly nocturnal otter, however, needs
a lot of luck. The water is wintergreen, as green aquatic plants can be seen
all year round.

The Oertze flows in a
broad valley that was dug carved into the sandy-gravelly glacier deposits by
meltwater towards the end of the Saale Ice Age. The headwaters of the Oertze
consist of several swamp marshes on the grounds of the military training area
Munster-Nord. The water flows in a southerly direction and flows east of Winsen
into the River Aller. The Oertze is a so-called summer-cold heath river as its water is always consistently tempered.
The water is cool in summer, but rarely freezes in winter. This phenomenon is
caused by the strong influx of groundwater.

The largely natural riverbed of the Oertze is characterised by numerous river
loops. Steep banks, depressions and an alternating gravel and sand banks are
characteristic of its structural richness. The water of the Oertze is of good
quality. The adjoining valley still has many wet meadows and forests. These
conditions are a prerequisite for a species-rich
flora and fauna.

These wetlands offer ideal conditions
for

• Orchids like the broadleaf orchid

• Marsh Marigold

• Iris

• Ragged Robin

Kingfishers and otters also feel at home
next to the river Oertze, as the heath river is a rich source of food. Special
species of fish that are an indicator of healthy waters include

• Brown trout

• Brook lamprey

• Bullhead

The Oertze river system is today part of
the European protected area system Natura 2000 due to its high ecological
significance.

Rafting on the Oertze

Rafting on the Oertze began in the 17th century. The Oertze was
navigable by raft from the estuary of the Wietze near Mueden to the Aller all
year round. Raftsmen were able to cover this distance in one day. The rafts
themselves consisted of the trunks intended for transport tied together with
fresh willow or birch twigs. In the second half of the 19th century, there were
eleven log-binding sites on the route from Mueden to Oldendorf. There was also
one in Eversen. The "Binnestä" on the Kolk is part of the village history trail, which clearly
illustrates the history of Eversen. The rafts were about 23 meters long and 3
meters wide. On the Aller, the logs were tied together into even larger rafts
and rafted to the transport hub in Bremen, from where they were also shipped
abroad. Wood was also needed for building and shipbuilding on the Lower Weser
river. Rafting on the Oertze came to an end at the end of the 19th century. The
lower course sanded up, making it difficult to navigate the river’s waters. New
sawmills established in wooded areas made the transport of tree trunks
unnecessary. In addition, more modern means of transport such as the railway
competed with rafting.

Today, water-hiking by canoe on the Oertze is very popular.

The most important features
of the tour in brief

• Natural heath river

• Village history trail in Eversen