Natural resources of Germany: rivers, soils, animals and plants

German land is well known not only for its high quality of production and good living standards, but also for its stable environmental situation. The natural resources of Germany are treasured by its inhabitants, and their rational use allows the country not to need much import, despite the fact that the diversity of fossils in this territory can hardly be called impressive. So, what are the soils, rivers, flora and fauna of this European state, and what are their features?

Water resources of Germany

The largest German river is the Rhine, which feeds many tributaries from the Alps. The pool passes through the Slate Mountains, the North German Lowland and reaches the North Sea. In the summer months there is a flood. It is associated with the melting of snow in the mountains. Impressive water flows allow the Rhine to be navigable. Other German rivers are often its tributaries, few are independent, for example, Elba and Weser belong to such. They are not affected by the amount of alpine snow, so in droughty times they grow smaller. In the south also flows the Danube, heading east. Its basin is formed by tributaries originating in the Alps. Strong floods in the summer months make the Danube not very suitable for navigation. These are the water resources of Germany. Rich in rivers this country can not be called, but there are no difficulties for the Germans in this sphere either.

Soil of Germany

The German territory is quite diverse in terms of land. The soil resources of Germany are represented by sandstones in the North German Lowland, chernozems in Thuringia and brown earth in Bavaria. Acid podzolic soils of mountains are not suitable for agricultural work, as are large wetlands. Primorye regions can be suitable for growing vegetables after reclamation. Brown forest soils are well suited for pasture or forest growing. Thuringian black earth is the best place for plowing. The local lands were formed by broad-leaved forests, which are now cut down. Depending on the location of the terrain and the steepness of the slope, the soil in the Alps may be different, but in general, the higher the site is, the less suitable it is for agricultural landings.

Vegetable world

Discussing the natural resources of Germany, it is impossible to forget about the flora. The country is densely populated, which leads to a rather small number of indigenous forests and a predominance of planted forests. On the territory there are few natural vegetation areas. Over the past decades, the growth of oaks and birches has been replaced by plowing and pasture. On the low mountains preserved ancient beeches, and on sandstones you can find pines. In the Alps, there are firs and spruce. In the highest areas, lichens and mosses can be found. The most extensive plant resources in Germany are represented by flowering plant species.

Animal world

Listing the diverse natural resources of Germany, it is worth mentioning and representatives of the fauna. German territories do not differ in the variety of exotic animals, however they can be met here a lot. For example, the most common are proteins, foxes and wild boars. Often you can see roe deer, deer and deer. On forest felling there are rabbits, rodents and hares, as well as numerous birds. On the territories of alpine meadows abound marmots. Earlier, otters were numerous, but water pollution annually reduces the population. Near the humid shores of the Baltic and North Seas, ducks and geese are most common. Here you can often see a nest of stork on the roofs.

Mineral resources

Despite the fact that the extractive industry is not leading, raw materials are of considerable importance for the country. The natural conditions and resources of Germany allow it to provide itself independently in many areas. For example, German potash production is the largest in the world. In the Ruhr and Saarland basins there are also deposits of coal. Production processes are strictly regulated by the EU policy, which ensures equality and free competition. Another feature that distinguishes the natural conditions and resources of Germany is the spread of brown coal and lignite. Their use is economically advantageous. The extraction is in the west of Cologne, as well as near Berlin and Leipzig. An important feature of the production is the care of water reserves - the Germans take all necessary measures to preserve environmental safety and use for the industry artificial ponds and a well-thought-out supply system.

Protection of the environment

Having listed the natural resources of Germany briefly, it is worth paying a little attention and protecting them. The Germans have a lot of related traditions. For a long time here, at the state level, deforestation and hunting for animals are regulated. In Germany, there are thousands of protected areas and national parks. In connection with the increased frequency of acid rain in West Germany, measures are taken to control emissions to the atmosphere. For example, German cars are equipped with special devices capable of absorbing hazardous substances from the exhaust gas. At the moment, a long-term and expensive environmental program is being implemented, designed not only to minimize emissions, but also to purify the country's sewage and water reservoirs.