Monday 3 January 2011

Oostvaardersplassen: the first travel of the year

Oostvaardersplassen is a nature reserve in the Netherlands, covering about 5,600 hectares (56 km2), located between the youngest city of the country, Almere [the first house was finished in 1976] and Lelystad, the capital of Flevoland, the central province of the Netherlands, established on the 1st January 1986, at the location of the former Zuiderzee, a shallow bay of the North Sea in the northwest of the country.

From Oostvaarders Plassen


We went there last Sunday and I took some photos along the Markermeer, a lake in the central Netherlands in between North Holland, Flevoland and the IJsselmeer, its larger sibling.
The lake is named after the small former island, now peninsula, of Marken that lies within it.

From Oostvaardersplassen


Oostvaardersplassen has been awarded with the European Nature Conservation Diploma.

From Oostvaardersplassen


The Council of Europe awarded, in this way, the international significance of this nature reserve.

From Oostvaardersplassen


Oostvaardersplassen was the third Dutch nature reserve to receive this Diploma.

From Oostvaardersplassen


As a consequence of the growing numbers of rare and unusual birds for which it provides a habitat, Oostvaardersplassen is compared with the Camarge in France and the Coto Donana in Spain.

From Oostvaarders Plassen


We went to a little cottage to watch some of the birds of this nature reserve...

From Oostvaarders Plassen


Here we can find the Great Cormorant, the Common Spoonbill, the Great Egret, the White-tailed Eagle and the Eurasian Bittern, among many others.

From Oostvaarders Plassen


Walking on the paths which surrounded the cottage, I remembered of some photos Patricia had taken in Patagonia...

From Oostvaarders Plassen


After the stroll in the wet area, we went to the dry area, De Praambult.

From Oostvaarders Plassen


Here we can watch Konik horses, the red deer and Heck cattle. These large grazing animals are kept out in the open all year round without supplemental feeding, and are allowed to behave as wild animals (without, for example, castrating males).

From Oostvaarders Plassen


We finished our stroll where we had begun, along the Markermeer...:-)

From Oostvaarders Plassen


Oostvaardersplassen, now isolated in the polder of Flevoland, will be connected to other nature reserves by a corridor to be created nearby, in Horsterwold. In 2015, the new network of "Oostvaardersland" will be part of the European-wide habitat network Natura 2000.

From Oostvaarders Plassen


I hope you have enjoyed our first travel of the year, so close to our home...

From Oostvaarders Plassen


What are the main beauties of your surroundings? What do you advise to visit?

16 comments:

Margarida Elias said...

O local é muito bonito e as tuas fotografias são lindas. Bom 2011!

Unknown said...

We are really lucky to live in such nature-blessed surroudings, don't we? Beautiful natuurwandeling, Sandra! Another place that goes on to the "must-see" list.
What's that light in the last photo? Is it a lighthouse?

Presépio no Canal said...

@ Margarida: Obrigada ;-) O local e muito bonito. E uma criacao humana. Fica no polder onde vivemos, uma terra "arrancada" ao mar. O pais tem um terco do territorio Portugues e quase 17 milhoes de habitantes. Dai a necessidade de criar novos espacos habitacionais e de fruicao da Natureza.

Presépio no Canal said...

@ Aledys: do you remember my photo of the exhibition in the Stadhuis? It was taken here. We usually go to Oostvaarders in this time of the year.
It's nearby... :-)
I think it is a lighthouse, yes, but I'm not sure.

Jacoba said...

Hi Sandra,
Very intriguing surroundings. Loved your pictures. I find the reports in the news always so contradictory, but I think it is just so fascinating. Have not been there yet, but no doubt it is fabulous to experience nature over there.
Well, and overhere?, as an answer to your question: just read back in my blog: May, June, July. Reports on the Loosdrechtse Plassen!
Happy day!
Jacoba

Presépio no Canal said...

@ Jacoba: That is for sure! I just loved your entries about it! Thanks for sharing! :-) Have a nice week!

PATagonia said...

Sandra:
Of course I fall in love with this beautifull nature reserve!!! And you live near it??? You are lucky...
Excellent all the photos, but the second and third photos capture my attention, The lake is frozen??
And, of course, thank you so much for the link to my blog!!!!
Happy good year for you!!!

PATagonia said...

I forgot to soy one thing: the name of this place is unpronounceable to me!!!! :)

Presépio no Canal said...

@ Patricia :-) yes, I live nearby this reserve. By car is about 10 minutes... :-)
I remembered of you when I was there ;-) I'm sure you would like it very much! One day, if you come to the NL, we can go together to Oostvaarders :-)
And yes, a great area of the lake was frozen :-)
Besos!

Presépio no Canal said...

@ Patricia ahahhahah I understand you quite well ;-)
And it isn't the worst word, believe me :-)))

ana said...

Que belas fotografias. O parque deve ser muito bonito!
Adorei as fostografias das árvores e do entardecer!
Parabéns!
Bjs :)

Presépio no Canal said...

@ Ana, Obrigada :-) O entardecer proporciona cores unicas e permite composicoes muito bonitas :-)
Bjs! :-)

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

PRECIOUS SANDRA! Now would you believe I had NO idea that the Netherlands had this kind of landscape? THANK YOU FOR TEACHING US so much about your environment...it is so beautiful! AND Dearest, THANK YOU for your kind comments on my post. BLUE is a lovely color, especially in that turquoise/aqua shade that resembles the sea or other lovely bodies of water.

May this new year bring you much success!!!! BISES, Anita

Presépio no Canal said...

@ Thanks, my dear Anita :-) for your constant support and friendship :-)
Beijinhos!!! :-) Stay well and warm :-)

TBM said...

Three days into the year and you are off exploring!! What a scenic place Oostvaarderplassen is. And the clouds... so dramatic!

Happy New Year to you and your man, dear Sandra! Bisous :-)

Presépio no Canal said...

@Japra: Ja, I like to explore, indeed... ;D
Oh, I like your visits, they make me smile :-))
Beijinhos xoxo :-)