The Lotharpfad is a walk through an area devastated by the hurricane Lothar in 1999. Unlike other places this area has been left untouched to experience how nature reacts and heals itself. In order not to disturb the ground one is walking only on wooden … Continue reading More Wooden Geometry
It’s Supertree!!!
Or simply a tree who once was very confused about which direction it should grow.
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The worst winter storm in recorded European history was Cyclone Lothar in 1999. In the Black Forest there is a strip of land which was left to heal itself. It’s possible to walk through the area and see what happens if nature is left to do its own thing. In order not to disturb this process visitors are not allowed to walk on the ground but on the raised planks leading through the emerging forest.
My husband’s first name is Lothar so he has a special connection to the area.
In 1999, a cyclone made landfall in Europe. It was considered the worst windstorm in the area in the 20th century.
The Cosmic Photo Challenge: Into the wind
On 26 December 1999 a winter storm or hurricane called Lothar raced across Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Black Forest in Germany. The devastation was vast. After clearing up all the mowed down trees, reforestation was tackled but in a particular area in the Black Forest a section of the woods was left untouched so that one could see how nature recuperated if left alone. A walkway was constructed to allow access without damaging the re-growth.
Ten years later one can still see the swath of destruction of the hurricane.
The walkway leading over the small bushes and trees starting to reclaim the soil.
The trees which had been uprooted were left lying where they fell and their roots were exposed to the elements.
We didn’t live in Germany then but we visited the “Lotharpfad” (Lothar path) ten years later. My husband in particular enjoyed the trip as he is called Lothar. He also enjoyed the headline of a tabloid a year later which read: “How much is a Lothar?” with the article tallying up the cost of the storm.
For One Word Sunday with the topic devastation.
Cee’s Black and White challenge asks for steps and stairs. Most of my choices are outdoor steps.
Nature versus city, the dunes near Bamburgh Castle in the Northeast of England versus steps in Mainz, Germany.
Steps as seats – both in Birmingham. Thomas Attwood on the steps of Chamberlain square who fought for full employment and better democractic representation and city workers on their break (of which Thomas Attwood would have approved).
These rather spidery steps lead over an area which is left untouched to show how nature is recovering after the devastation left behind by the hurricane Lothar which swept through the area in 1999 . The steps on the left are from Edinburgh, Scotland.
The New Steps is a street (with steps) in Edingburgh.
And these are new steps in metal, rather than stone. Going up the spiral stairs near the Biosphärenhaus in the Pfälzer Wald, and going down to the subway in Munich.
https://ceenphotography.com/2016/06/09/cees-black-white-photo-challenge-steps-indoors-or-outdoors/
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