Wutach Gorge
| Wutach Gorge Nature Reserve (Naturschutzgebiet Wutachschlucht) |
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IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
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From the direction of the Feldberg to the Blumberg Gate (Blumberger Pforte, centre) the Wutach crosses the open South Baar countryside in a long forested gorge. From here it flows to the left through the Wutachflühen to the Rhine, whereas its former valley, 165 metres higher, continues to the right and runs down to the Danube.
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| Location | Germany, Baden-Württemberg, counties of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis and Waldshut |
| Coordinates | 47°50′41″N 8°18′43″E / 47.84472°N 8.31194°ECoordinates: 47°50′41″N 8°18′43″E / 47.84472°N 8.31194°E |
| Area | 968.8 ha (2,394 acres) |
| Created | 26 July 1939 |
| Administrator | Regierungspräsidium Freiburg |
| Website | WPDA |
The Wutach Gorge (German: Wutachschlucht) is a narrow, steep-sided valley in southern Germany through in the upper reaches of the River Wutach with three gorge-like sections, the lowest of which is also called the Wutachflühen. The gorge cuts through the southern part of the Baar region from the eastern side of the High Black Forest heading eastwards to the Trauf the steep, northwestern flank of the Swabian Jura, which transitions to the Randen mountains here.
The 60- to 170-metre-deep gorges stretch for over 33 river kilometres (excluding side gorges) and are notable for many reasons. Their geologically young, prototypical and actively continuing development results in a great variety of geotopes and biotopes that support a correspondingly rich range of flora and fauna. The gorges are very popular with tourists and played an important role in the establishment of conservation consciousness in southwestern Germany. The Wutach Gorge is part of the Southern Black Forest Nature Park.
The ravines start in the valley of the Gutach (the upper reaches of the Wutach) below Neustadt and in the valley of the Haslach below Lenzkirch. After they merge to form the Wutach they run, with small changes of direction, initially generally eastward and end at the village of Grimmelshofen in the municipality of Stühlingen after the Wutach turns sharply southwards in the area of the former mining town of Blumberg on meeting the steep slopes of the Baaralb. Initially, the gorge is bordered by the wooded plateaus of the eastern slopes of the Black Forest. Later, its northern border is formed by the historical Bertholdsbaar with the population centre of Löffingen and the village of Rötenbach. To the south is a similar muschelkalk plateau with the settlements of Bonndorf and Wutach.
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Wikipedia