Saarland

Landlocked Saarland is the smallest of the 16 federal states of Germany covering an area of 2,571.52 km² (992.87 square miles) with a population of around one million people. The capital and largest city is Saarbrücken. It borders France to the south, Rhineland-Palatinate to the north and east. and hit as a tiny border with Luxembourg to the west, which country is roughly the same size as Saarland. It is named after the Saar River, which is, in fact a tributary of the Moselle River (itself a Rhine tributary) that runs through the state from the south to the northwest.

One third of the land area of the Saarland is covered by forest, one of highest percentages in Germany. The state is generally hilly; the highest mountain is the Dollberg with a height of about 2,280 feet. Most inhabitants live in a city agglomeration on the French border, surrounding the capital of Saarbrücken.

Important income sources are the automobile, steel and ceramic industries and computer science and information systems industry. In the past, coal mining was important, but the last coal mine in Saarland closed in 2012, ending 250 years of coal mining history in the region. The decision to close the mines was motivated by safety concerns about earthquakes in the region.

Saarland – ©Wolfgang Staudt CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

For a small state, it has surprisingly varied ecosystems, ranging from the large forested area and lush rivers to its biosphere reserves and unique limestone grasslands.

Birding Saarland

Over one-third of Saarland consists of oak and beech woods. Notable forest reserves include the massive 10,000-hectare Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park and the Urwald vor den Toren der Stadt (Virgin Forest), a wilderness area just outside Saarbrücken. These areas provide critical habitats for endangered species like Wildcat, Black Stork, and Tengmalm’s owl.

Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park – ©AndibeiWikki CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The special habitat of limestone & Dry Grasslands ism primarily found along the French border and areas like the Saargau, these microclimates with southern-facing limestone slopes are among the most species-rich habitats in Europe. They hold up to 15 different orchid species, Marsh Fritillary butterflies and a number of rare birds including Blackcock, Woodlark, Common Quail, Turtle Doves and Red-backed Shrike.

Bliesgau Biosphere Reserve – ©Schleifchenqueen CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

There are also areas of meadow orchards along the river valleys, one area of which is the Bliesgau Biosphere Reserve in the southeast. It is an area of rolling hills, vast orchards, and lush meadows. This habitat, maintained through eco-friendly farming and grazing, supports diverse flora, including rare orchids.

There are also wetlands & floodplains around the river systems like the Saar and Moselle’s lush valleys, such as Saarschleife (Saar Loop), which provide thriving riverside habitats for beavers, herons, and migratory birds.