The Fascinating World of Deep Reservoir Lakes

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Western Germany's Baggage's Land has 21 dams, creating diverse habitats for wildlife, but the region faces challenges from constant dam changes and the River Damned. The dams, originally built for flood protection and water supply, now serve as havens for waterfowl and benefit various wildlife like beavers, herons, and fish.

Insights

  • The Baggage's Land in Western Germany is home to 21 dams, creating diverse habitats for wildlife like beavers, herons, and fish, with the Vupa River being a crucial water source supporting various species.
  • The region's dams, initially built for flood protection and drinking water, now serve as havens for waterfowl, with species like white swans and cormorants adapting to changing water levels, showcasing the unique challenges faced by the inhabitants due to constant dam changes and the River Damned.

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Recent questions

  • What animals inhabit Baggage's Land?

    Various wildlife like beavers, herons, pike, and coot.

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Summary

00:00

Baggage's Land: Dams and Diverse Wildlife

  • Western Germany's Baggage's Land boasts 21 dams, a European record, providing diverse habitats for numerous animals.
  • The region faces unique challenges due to constant changes in the dams and the River Damned, posing difficulties for its inhabitants.
  • Situated on the Rhine's right bank, the Baggage's Land encompasses Leverkusen, Remscheid, and Wuppertal, with the Vupa River being the longest.
  • The region receives abundant rainfall, with the Vupa originating in the Obab region and supporting various wildlife.
  • The Lingazette reservoir, one of the oldest in the area, covers 66 soccer pitches when fully dammed.
  • Dams in the region, primarily built for flood protection and drinking water, now serve as paradises for waterfowl.
  • White swans, bonded for life, carefully nest to avoid destruction by changing water levels, while cormorants adapt well to water fluctuations.
  • The Vupa River, previously named Viper, has been a vital water source for over a century, supplying drinking water and regulating water levels.
  • The Baggage's Land hosts a diverse ecosystem, including beavers, herons, and fish like pike and coot, thriving in the reservoirs.
  • The region's dams play a crucial role in regulating water levels, indirectly benefiting various wildlife, such as beavers, herons, and fish like pike and coot.

27:05

Reviving Rivers: Reintroducing Fish for Conservation

  • The Vupa river, once polluted, now hosts reintroduced fish like salmon and sea trout as part of the Migratory FISH program since 1993.
  • Volunteers monitor the growth of juvenile salmon released into the river, with expectations of seeing them return as adults in a few years.
  • Sea trout are bred in a nearby hatchery, with eggs stripped from the fish and sorted daily to reduce disease risks.
  • The Bayern Borg Reservoir, equivalent to 22 soccer pitches, is home to sea trout hatched after 80 to 100 days, which are released into the Vupa river.
  • The Eschbach river, dammed to form a reservoir of nearly 20 soccer pitches, feeds into the Rhine and requires clean water for drinking reservoirs.
  • The oldest drinking water dam in Germany, operational since 1891, houses dragonfly larvae that hunt small crustaceans and mosquito larvae.
  • Dams like the Dune, with a reservoir size of 660 soccer pitches, feature thermal regulation systems to maintain water temperatures suitable for fish and birds.
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