The German land is well known not only for its high quality production and good living standards, but also for its stable environmental situation. Germany’s natural resources are reverently protected by its inhabitants, and their rational use allows the country not to need import too much, despite the fact that the diversity of minerals in this territory can hardly be called impressive. So, what are the soils, rivers, flora and fauna of this European state, and what are their features?
Germany water resources
The largest German river is the Rhine, which is fed by many tributaries from the Alps. The basin passes through the Slate Mountains, the North German Lowland and reaches the North Sea. During the summer months, floods occur. It is associated with melting snow in the mountains. The impressive water currents allow the Rhine to be navigable. Other German rivers are often its tributaries, few are independent, for example, the Elbe and the Weser belong to such. They are not affected by the amount of alpine snow, so in dry times they become smaller. In the south also flows the Danube, heading east. Its basin is formed by tributaries originating in the Alps. Heavy floods during the summer months make the Danube not very suitable for shipping. These are Germany’s water natural resources. You cannot call this country rich in rivers, but the Germans have no difficulties in this area either.
German soil
German territory is quite diverse in terms of land. The soil resources of Germany are represented by sandstones in the North German lowland, chernozems in Thuringia and burozems in Bavaria. The acidic podzolic soils of the mountains are not suitable for agricultural work, as are large wetlands. Seaside regions may be suitable for growing vegetables after land reclamation. Brown forest soils are well suited for grassland or forest cultivation. Thuringian black soil is the best place for plowing. The local land was formed by deciduous forests, which are now cut down. Depending on the location of the terrain and the steepness of the slope, the soil in the Alps can be different, but in general, the higher the site is, the less suitable it is for agricultural planting.
Vegetable world
When discussing the natural resources of Germany, it is impossible to forget about the flora. The country is densely populated, which leads to a rather small number of indigenous forests and the predominance of forest plantations. On the territory there are few areas of natural vegetation. Over the past decades, the growing places of oaks and birches have been replaced by arable land and pastures. In the low mountains, ancient beeches have been preserved, and pine trees can be found on the sandstones. In the Alps there are fir and spruce. In the highest territories, lichens and mosses can be found. The most extensive plant resources of Germany are represented by flowering plant species.
Animal world
Listing the various natural resources of Germany, it is worth mentioning representatives of the fauna. German territories are not distinguished by a variety of exotic animals, however, here you can find a lot of them. For example, the most common are squirrels, foxes and wild boars. You can often see roe deer, fallow deer and deer. Rabbits, rodents and hares, as well as numerous birds, are found in the forest clearings. Alpine meadows abound in marmots. Earlier, otters were numerous, but water pollution annually reduces the population. On the wet coasts of the Baltic and North Seas, the most common birds are ducks and geese. Here you can often see a stork nest on the roofs.
Mineral resources
Despite the fact that the mining industry is not leading, raw materials are of considerable importance for the country. The natural conditions and resources of Germany allow it to provide for itself independently in many areas. For example, German potash production is the largest in the world. Coal deposits are also located in the Ruhr and Saar basins. Mining processes are strictly regulated by EU policies that ensure equality and free competition. Another feature that distinguishes the natural conditions and resources of Germany is the distribution of brown coal and lignite. Their use is economically advantageous. Extraction is carried out in the west of Cologne, as well as near Berlin and Leipzig. An important feature of production is concern for water reserves - the Germans take all necessary measures to maintain environmental safety and use artificial reservoirs and a well-thought-out supply system for industry.
Environmental protection
After listing the natural resources of Germany briefly, it is worthwhile to pay a little attention and their protection. The Germans have many traditions associated with this. For a long time, deforestation and animal hunting have been regulated here at the state level. There are thousands of protected areas and national parks in Germany. Due to the increased frequency of acid rain in West Germany, measures are being taken to control air emissions. For example, German cars are equipped with special devices capable of absorbing hazardous substances from exhaust gas. At the moment, a long-term and expensive environmental program is being implemented, designed not only to minimize emissions, but also to purify the country's sewage and water bodies.