We're still in Germany's Black Forest in today's Blog about the Viking Cruise on the Rhine River. In today's blog, you'll see the oldest barn still standing, see and hear a babbling brook in the forest and understand how a warming climate has affected the forest.
(Photo: Rob and Tom in Germany's Black Forest! Credit: R.G.)
A BABBLING BROOK - One of the most peaceful things you could ever listen to is the sound of water running in a stream or river, and we found one! Here's a short video - just listen to the water surrounded by peace and quiet.
According to West German forest experts, the chief cause of the damage, according to most German scientists and forest administrators who have studied the problem, is air pollution and acid rain generated by industry and automobiles.
OLD MILITARY BASE REMNANTS - According to Wikipedia, Remnants of military fortifications dating from the 17th and 18th centuries can be found in the Black Forest, especially on the mountain passes. Examples include the multiple baroque fieldworks of Margrave Louis William of Baden-Baden or individual defensive positions such as the Alexanderschanze (Alexander's Redoubt), the Röschenschanze and the Schwedenschanze (Swedish Redoubt).
DEFORESTATION CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE - Originally, the Black Forest was a mixed forest of deciduous trees and firs. At the higher elevations spruce also grew. In the middle of the 19th century, the Black Forest was almost completely deforested by intensive forestry and was subsequently replanted, mostly with spruce monocultures.
WHAT IS THE OLDEST BARN IN THE BLACK FOREST? - The "heath house" (Heidenhaus), or "hill house" (Höhenhaus), is by far the oldest form of Black Forest farmhouse and is mostly found in the High Black Forest.
(Note: A sign partially obscures the barn because I took this picture of it while sitting on a moving bus! Credit: R.G.)
NEXT: Cuckoo Clocks!
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