Germany is one of the most visited countries in the world. It ranked eighth in terms of tourism arrivals in 2018, with the country welcoming 39 million visitors. With a land area of 357,389 square kilometers (88 million acres), the country has a lot of things to offer in terms of natural resources and educational opportunities as well. A lot of the visitors Germany welcomed in 2018 were in the country for educational and business-related activities.
Among the most popular destinations in the country are the major cities: Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. Among the best things to see in Germany is architecture, especially the imposing castles surrounded by greenery. Germans are great artists. Two of the world’s most famous musicians, Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven, were Germans. In the modern world, Germany is also home to the best car manufacturers: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen.
Tourists are in for an exciting gastronomic experience in Germany, where the best bread and beer are made. The most delicious sausages are also found in this nation, which is home to around 83 million people.
A lot of the visitors also marveled at the country's natural resources, particularly the following protected areas: Jasmund National Park, Saxon Switzerland National Park, and Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park. Still, the country is home to a dozen more national parks that offer amazing vistas and unforgettable experiences. Here are the top five unexplored national parks in Germany:
1. Black Forest National Park
Most national park establishments—whichever part of the world—are never met with dissent because environmental concerns are important everywhere.. But the creation of this park was met with political controversy. It was finally established in 2014. It aims to protect the Black Forest, a forested mountain range.
This park has so many natural attractions like the Hoher Ochsenkopf mountain, which stands at 1,054 meters. It is a protected area, especially because of the three-toed woodpecker in this region of the park. This bird species was close to extinction in the Black Forest for years before it was naturally reintroduced. The Hornisgrinde is the highest mountain in the area at 1,056 meters. Other summits are the following: Groβhahnberg, Leinkopf, Riesenkopfle, Schliffkopf, Seekopf, and Vogelskopf. The park is a paradise among mountain climbers.
Among the bodies of water in the park are the Buhlbachsee, Huzenbacker See, and Wildsee pond. The All Saints Waterfalls is also a favorite among tourists.
2. Hainich National Park
Home of primeval beech forests, this park was established in 1997 primarily to protect the area’s wide range of beech forest communities. Among the park’s flora population are ash trees, hornbeams, lindens, and maples. The park’s naturally green setting is peppered with the presence of summer snowflakes and anemones. Among the park’s fauna are 15 species of bats, seven species of woodpeckers and a lot of wood beetles.
The park is also part of the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany World Heritage Site. This is a transnational designation that covers territories in 12 European nations.
3. Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park
This is the German part of the Wadden Sea National Parks, which aims to protect the mesmerizing Wadden Sea that traverses three countries: Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany. This is also the smallest of the transboundary parks. The Wadden Sea is an important UNESCO biosphere reserve because of its biodiversity and its breeding significance among migratory birds.
There are over 2,000 species of animals documented in the park, which is characterized by different ecosystems: the marine part, shallow creeks, and salt marshes. The park also has some sand, mixed mudflats, and sandbars. There are a lot of common and gray seals in the park because of the abundance of fish, which is part of their diet. Fish is also the common diet of the water birds that frequent the park.
Aquatic birds also breed in the park. The Wadden Sea, as a whole, hosts around 11 million ducks, geese, gulls, and waders. But shelducks are particularly fond of Hamburg Wadden because of the snails found in the mudflats. At one point, around 180,000 shelducks can be found in the park. Eider ducks have almost the same population during the molting season.
4. Lower Oder Valley National Park
This is a protected area brought about by the collaboration of Germany and Poland. The German section is characterized by hills covered with xeric grasslands and some flower species. The park is not just significant because of its natural beauty and resources but also because of its protective nature. This natural structure is a great defensive element during catastrophic floods. It is the only German park that protects floodplains.
The park has some trails for hikers and bikers. It is also a favored venue among inline skaters. It is an amazing experience to get involved in fun activities with a natural green backdrop.
Among the more common flora in the park is the pubescent oak. The area has also been designated as a Special Protection Area, which is given by the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Among the most popular winged creatures in the park are aquatic warbler, black stork, and corncrake. The park is also home to semi-aquatic mammals like the European beaver and European otter.
5. Muritz National Park
The centerpiece of the park is the serene Muritz Lake and corresponding Lakeland. Lake Muritz is the largest lake within German territory. The park, which was established in 1990, is divided into two regions: the Muritz and Serra. While the park is named after the lake, only its eastern shore is part of the park. There are also over 100 lakes within the park.
With so many bodies of water, the park is, of course, popular among water-dwelling birds like the black stork, crane, garganey, great bittern, greenshank, little stint, redshank, reed warbler, and teal. Among the resident raptors are the osprey and white-tailed eagle. There are also red deer in the park, which is among the largest of the deer species.