52°58′N13°49′E / 52.97°N 13.82°E /52.97; 13.82
TheSchorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve, often shortened toSchorfheide, is abiosphere reserve in theGerman State ofBrandenburg near thePolish border. The reserve was established on 1 October 1990[1] following theGerman Reunification and is under the protection of theUNESCOMan and Biosphere Reserve Programme. It stretches over theGerman districts ofBarnim,Uckermark,Märkisch-Oderland andOberhavel and incorporates an area of 1,291 square kilometres (498 sq mi). Notable towns areEberswalde,Joachimsthal andFriedrichswalde. The core area of the reserve is formed by the Schorfheide forest, one of the largest cohesive woodlands in Germany.
From theEarly Middle Ages until the period of theThirty Years' War, the area fell under the responsibility of the cloister ofChorin which led to a cultivation of suitable spaces. Forest clearances took place for the sake of producing weapons for thePrussian army, but the woods were usually afforested. Large parts of the woodland were left untouched as hunting areas for the nobility, which marked the creation of today's wilderness. During theThird Reich,Hermann Göring chose the spot for his country residenceCarinhall. AfterWorld War II, the forests were again used as an exclusive hunting and leisure area for theEast German leaders. The title of a Biosphere Reserve was awarded in 1990 following an initiative of then East German head of stateLothar de Maizière.
The Schorfheide was formed during thelast ice age. Today it is acultural landscape composed of extensive woodlands (most of which are dominated by eitheroaks orpines), a wide range of bodies of standing water like lakes (most notablyWerbellinsee,Grimnitzsee andParsteiner See), ponds and renaturatedbogs, as well asheathlands. Some parts of the Schorfheide are left as awilderness. The reserve is crossed by the riverRagöse.
The Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve is home of many forest-living animals likered deer andwild boars. Of special interest and goal of protection are those animals whose habitats are endangered elsewhere in Germany likebeavers,otters,pond tortoises andfire-bellied toads. Due to its water bodies, the area serves as an important breeding and resting ground for birds likewhite-tailed eagles andcranes.
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