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The Oostvaarderplassen is a nature reserve in the Netherlands. Despite its age, the polder it exists in only became dry in 1968, it has an international importance as a European wetland. Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 52 KB)My own picture File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A polder is a low-lying tract of land that forms an artificial hydrological entity, enclosed by embankments known as dikes and requiring drainage by pumps to prevent the water table within it from rising too high. ...

The Oostvaardersplassen can be divided into two areas, wet and dry. In the wet area along the Markermeer, there are large reedlands on clay, where molting geese often feed. This area is also home to comorants, spoonbills, white herons and the Great Bittern, among many other animals. View across the Markermeer The Markermeer (Lake Marken) is a 700 km² lake in the central Netherlands in between North Holland, Flevoland and its larger sibling, the IJsselmeer. ... Binomial name Botaurus stellaris Linnaeus, 1758 The Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. ...

The dry area was originally a habitat for willow trees. The first year hundreds of seedlings could be found on a square meter. The area is kept open by konik, deer and Heck cattle. These big grazers are kept out in the open year round without supplemental feeding. The theory is that in time, the current open landscape will evolve into a natural forest. The only big grazers missing are the moose and the wisent. It is unlikely that the moose will be introduced but there is hope for the wisent as it fills a different niche from the Heck cattle. Species About 350, including: Salix alba - White Willow Salix amygdaloides - Peachleaf Willow Salix arbuscula - Mountain Willow Salix aurita - Eared Willow Salix babylonica - Peking Willow Salix caprea - Goat Willow Salix caroliniana - Coastal Plain Willow Salix cinerea - Grey Sallow Salix fragilis - Crack Willow Salix herbacea - Dwarf Willow Salix lanata - Woolly Willow Salix... The konik is a small Polish horse, a kind of wild pony. ... Genera About 15 in 4 subfamilies. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Heck Cattle (a breed of Bos taurus or Bos primigenius taurus), also called reconstructed aurochs, is a hardy breed of cattle often referred to by its promoters by the name of Aurochs. ... Binomial name Alces alces (Linnaeus, 1758) A female moose. ... Binomial name Bison bonasus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Wisent (pronounced vE-zent) is the European bison, species Bison bonasus. ...

Oostvaardersplassen animal photos & much more details