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Every expedition starts from here.

 

In 2014, the Black Forest National Park was founded. The first and so far only national park in Baden-Württemberg was thus created in two closely spaced areas in the Northern Black Forest.

 

The northern of the two areas belonging to the national park is located around the mountain Hoher Ochsenkopf and covers about 2,400 hectares. The southern part has almost 7,600 hectares and surrounds Ruhestein, a pass at 912 meters above sea level. In the extreme northwest, the park borders directly on the highest mountain in the Northern Black Forest, the Hornisgrinde. The Black Forest National Park is one of the areas in Germany with the highest precipitation, with 180 days of fog.

 

The task of the national park is primarily the preservation of the original nature of this region. In this it can already register clear successes, because above all the population of the capercaillie has stabilized since the establishment of the park. In addition, it fulfills an educational mission. The visitor center at Ruhestein offers a variety of exhibitions and lectures. From there, you can also take part in guided tours through the park.

 

Not only the forests are protected in the national park, but also another type of landscape that is more common in the Black Forest, namely the upland moor. The term does not refer to a particularly high moor, but rather one that slowly curves upward. Similar to the cirque lakes, the upland moors are also a relic of the last ice age. They are areas where pond moss grows, while the subsoil is clayey. This type of soil keeps rainwater from running off, whereupon it is consumed by the moss, which subsequently grows upwards.

 

A national park ranger takes care of the national park as well as guides the visitors. His field of activity is quite diverse. He not only ensures compliance with the measures for the protection of nature, but also supports scientific research by collecting data in the park area, takes care of necessary interventions, the disposal of waste from the park and does a lot of public relations work. The exact job title of the ranger in Germany is "Certified Nature and Landscape Keeper".