West Hesse Depression
The West Hesse Depression[1][2] (German: Westhessische Senke) is part of the West Hesse Highlands and Lowlands region in the north of the German state of Hesse. Like the East Hesse Depression, it is a series of separate depressions that form a natural corridor and have been an important historical trade route.[3]
Geography and geology
Geographical location
The West Hesse Depression runs along the valleys of the Schwalm, Eder, Fulda, Esse and Diemel roughly from Alsfeld in the south to Bad Karlshafen in the north. It separates the East Hesse Highlands (major regional group 34 or D46), including the Knüll hills and Kaufungen Forest in the east, from the West Hesse Highlands (35 or D47), including the Kellerwald and Habichtswald in the west and is itself part of the West Hesse Highlands, within which it is included as geographical unit 343. Its southern boundary is formed by the northern foothills of the
Geology
During the
The subsequent
As the
More recent sea level changes led in the Tertiary period to flooding of the region and the deposition of sand. This covered the extensive forests that had grown up in the warm, moist climate, producing the lignite deposits evident today. Not until the most-recent period, the Quaternary, did the fertile loess soils of the West Hesse Depression appear.[6]
On the river plains of the
Rivers
The valleys of the following rivers are within the West Hesse Depression (rivers in brackets only drain the depression):
- (Weser)
- (l) Fulda(lower course, not quite to its confluence)
- (l) Eder (lower courses)
- (l) Ems (Eder) (middle and lower course)
- (r) Schwalm (Eder) (middle and lower course)
- (l) Pilgerbach
- (l) Bauna (lower course)
- (l) Eder (lower courses)
- (l) Diemel (only the very lowest course)
- (r) (Warme)
- (r) Nebelbeeke
- (r) Esse
- (r) (Warme)
- (l)
Ecologically important lakes within the depression are those that were created following the cessation of mining activity: the Borkener See and Singliser See.
Sub-divisions
Natural regions of the West Hesse Depression | |||
---|---|---|---|
Number | Natural region | Area km2 | Topographical map
|
343.0 | Schwalm | ||
343.00 | Schwalm Bottom | 17,83 | TK25 Nr. 5121 |
343.01 | Wasenberg Terraces | 75,75 | TK25 Nr. 5121 |
343.02 | Alsfeld Hollow | 61,71 | TK25 Nr. 5221 |
343.1 | Landsburg Depression | ||
343.10 | Trockenerfurth Plain | 12,53 | TK25 Nr. 4921 |
343.11 | Landsburg Bottom | 36,20 | TK25 Nr. 5021 |
343.12 | Frielendorf Hills | 77,78 | TK25 Nr. 5021 |
343.13 | Borken Basin | 24,29 | TK25 Nr. 4921 |
343.2 | Hessengau | ||
343.20 | Homberg Bay | 42,02 | TK 25 Nr. 4922 |
343.21 | Wabern Plain | ||
343.210 | Schwalmaue | 22,43 | TK25 Nr. 4921 |
343.211 | Fritzlar Eder Corridor | 48,55 | TK25 Nr. 4821 |
343.22 | Großenenglise Plateau | 18,38 | TK25 Nr. 4921 |
343.23 | Fritzlar Börde | 96,37 | TK25 Nr. 4822 |
343.24 | Gudensberg Kuppen Ridge | 29,72 | TK25 Nr. 4822 |
343.3 | Kassel Basin | 250,62 | TK25 Nr. 4723 |
343.30 | Kassel-Fulda Aue | 17,49 | TK25 Nr. 4623 |
343.31 | Kassel Trough | 5,91 | TK25 Nr. 4622 |
343.4 | Hofgeismar Depression | 138,45 | TK25 Nr. 4422 |
343.5 | North Habichtswald Foreland | ||
343.50 | Westuffeln Depression | 31,77 | TK25 Nr. 4522 |
343.51 | Langenberg and Staufenberg Plateau | 29,52 | TK25 Nr. 4522 |
Taken from the Hesse Environmental Atlas (Umweltatlas Hessen):[8]
The natural region of the West Hesse Depression is characterised by numerous smaller depressions and plains.
From its southern end, the West Hesse Depression runs in a northwesterly direction through the Schwalm (region) (343.0) which surrounds the upper and middle course of the river of the same name, beginning with the Alsfeld Hollow (Alsfelder Mulde) followed by the Wasenberg Terraces and the Schwalm Bottom (Schwalmgrund).
Continuing in a northeasterly direction around the middle reaches of the Schwalm is the Landsburg Depression (343.1) with its sub-units the Landsburg Bottom, Frielendorf Hills, Trockenerfurth Plain and the Borken Basin.
The transition into the Hessengau region (343.2) with the confluence of the Schwalm and the Eder continues northeast via the regional sub-units of the Homberg Bay, Wabern Plain (Schwalmaue and Fritzlar Eder Corridor), Großenenglis Plateau, Fritzlar Börde and the Gudensberg Kuppen Ridge into the Kassel Basin.
In the Kassel Basin (343.3) by the lower course of the
To the northwest it runs along the Nebelbeeke and the Warme which drains into the Diemel, and into the North Habichtswald Foreland with its sub-units of the Westuffeln Depression and the Langenberg and Staufenberg Plateau.
Northeast of the Kassel Basin are the Hofgeismar Depression, which follows the Esse (Diemel) and finally the lower course of the Diemel until just before its confluence with the Weser. This natural region has an area of 138.45 square kilometres and is the second largest within the West Hesse Depression.
Origin of the name
The origin of the name "West Hesse" is derived from the neighbouring natural region of the East Hesse Highlands. The catchment area draining northwards into the River Weser can be referred to as a North Hesse Depression.[8]
Ecology
Conservation status
In the West Hesse Depression are:[7]
- Special Areas of Conservation: 2,6%
- Nature reserves: 1,3%
Especially important
- Singliser See - breeding and wintering area
- Borkener See - wintering area
- along the River Fulda- breeding and wintering areas
- the "Wasenberg-Ziegenhain Plain" near Schwalmstadt - breeding and wintering area.
Of regional significance is the Ems river, a breeding and wintering area.
The Borkener See nature reserve (332 ha) is also a Special Area of Conservation.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Dickinson, Robert E. (1964). Germany: A regional and economic geography (2nd ed.). London: Methuen.
- ^ Elkins, T.H. (1972). Germany (3rd ed.). London: Chatto & Windus, 1972. ASIN B0011Z9KJA.
- ^ Dickinson, Robert E (1964). Germany: A regional and economic geography (2nd ed.). London: Methuen, p. 512. ASIN B000IOFSEQ.
- ^
Alfred Pletsch (1986), Walter Heinemeyer (ed.), "Das Werden Hessens - eine geographische Einführung : Die Westhessische Senke - verbindende und trennende Achse", Das Werden Hessens (in German) (1. ed.), Marburg: N.G. Elwert Verlag, ISBN 3-7708-0849-5
- ^ LAGIS: Geological map of Hesse and explanatory text
- ^
K. Weidemann (1982), Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseum Mainz (ed.), "Kassel - Hofgeismar - Fritzlar - Melsungen - Ziegenhain : Teil I: Einführende Aufsätze", Führer zu vor- und frühgeschichtlichen Denkmälern (in German), vol. Band 50 (1. ed.), Mainz: Verlag Philipp von Zabern, pp. 11–13, ISBN 3-8053-0573-7
- ^ a b c Bundesamt für Naturschutz (ed.), Landschaftsteckbrief : Westhessische Senke (HTML) (in German), retrieved 25 November 2008
- ^ a b Hessisches Landesamt für Umwelt und Geologie (ed.), Umweltatlas Hessen : Westhessische Senke (HTML) (in German), retrieved 25 November 2008
Sources
- Walter Heinemeyer, ed. (1986), "Das Werden Hessens", Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Hessen (in German), vol. Band 50 (1. ed.), Marburg: N.G. Elwert Verlag, ISBN 3-7708-0849-5
External links