Western Pomeranian Lagoon Area National Park
An island world that is constantly being reshaped by wind and water. The Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park is characterized by its diverse landscape and is part of the third largest national park in Germany. Here, "nature can be nature" and is under special protection. From cranes and grey seals to dunes and wind-blown mudflats, there are numerous animal and plant species to marvel at in various protected areas in the Western Pomerania Lagoon Area.
A wilderness by the sea
The National Park
It stretches over 786 km² from the Darßwald in the west to West Rügen in the east. Nowhere else are steep and flat coasts, headlands, bays, dunes and beach lakes as close together as here. The various habitats are subject to constant change.
The Western Pomerania Lagoon Area is divided into two protection zones: the core zone, in which no management takes place, and the care and development zone. This zone may be entered by visitors to the national park.
The wild Baltic coast and the Bodden waters are the trademark of the national park. 83% of the total area of the Western Pomeranian islands is taken up by the Baltic Sea, the mudflats and the lagoons. A large part of the land area is taken up by the Darß forest. In order to be able to overlook the vast natural area of the Bodden landscape, viewing platforms such as the Darßer Ort lighthouse await you.
The national park is a European bird sanctuary, where numerous species of birds live or are on their way through. The crane trips offered by the White Fleet are exciting excursions. On the tour you have the opportunity to observe the migratory birds that stop here in their thousands. The national park also offers free guided tours, where you can see deer in addition to the many species of birds. Grey seals are also increasingly being spotted in the Baltic Sea, as are the occasional porpoise.
If you are interested in further information about the national park, click here to Website.
Where the Cranes Rest
Everything about the fascinating migratory birds and where to observe them.
The Western Pomerania Lagoon Area, with its area around the Barther Bodden and up to the Rügen-Bock region, is one of the most important and largest crane resting areas in Central Europe. Here, the migratory birds that leave Scandinavia in the autumn can find places to sleep in the shallow lagoon and on undisturbed islands. Cranes eat a wide variety of foods, from small fish to potatoes. The so-called "birds of happiness" rest for several weeks with up to 70.000 of their own kind in the national park before flying further south and overwintering there. In mild winter months, many cranes stay in the Baltic Sea region because they can find enough food here to survive.
The migratory birds can be seen during their resting period in spring and autumn. The best observation station is the Kranorama at Lake Günz. This is located on the mainland between Barth and Stralsund. The rangers working there will be happy to answer any questions you have about the cranes and provide you with modern observation technology.
To learn as much as possible about cranes, excursions in the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park. Here, national park rangers lead you in small groups to the observation points and impart extensive knowledge about the migratory birds. Because experiencing the "birds of happiness" up close while they rest is an absolute highlight for nature lovers.
You can also watch the cranes from the water. The Weiße Flotte offers crane trips from September to October. During the trip, guests receive information about the migratory birds and can borrow binoculars. The ship starts in Zingst and travels for about 1,5 hours through the national park until it reaches the largest roosting place for the cranes, "Pramort", and stops for observation.
You can find more interesting facts about cranes and their resting areas here.