The Gäuboden (also referred to in German as the Dungau) is a region in

Lower Bavaria Lower Bavaria (german: Niederbayern, Bavarian: ''Niedabayern'') is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of the state. Geography Lower Bavaria is subdivided into two regions () – Landshut and Donau-W ...

in southern

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

without any clear geographic or cultural boundaries, that covers an area about 15 kilometres wide south of the

River Danube The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...

and the

Bavarian Forest The village of Zell in the Bavarian Forest The Bavarian Forest (German: ' or ''Bayerwald''; bar, Boarischa Woid) is a wooded, low-mountain region in Bavaria, Germany that is about 100 kilometres long. It runs along the Czech border and is con ...

, beginning opposite

Wörth an der Donau Wörth an der Donau () is a town in the district of Regensburg, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the left bank of the Danube, 22 km east of Regensburg. First mayors before 1945 First mention of a mayor: Ulrich Vorstl (1482) *Franz ...

and stretching as far as

Künzing Künzing () is a municipality in the district of Deggendorf, Bavaria, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, an ...

. The largest town in the region is

Straubing Straubing () is an independent city in Lower Bavaria, southern Germany. It is seat of the district of Straubing-Bogen. Annually in August the Gäubodenvolksfest, the second largest fair in Bavaria, is held. The city is located on the Danube form ...

, which is often called the centre of the Gäuboden. The Gäuboden is one of the largest

loess Loess (, ; from german: Löss ) is a clastic, predominantly silt-sized sediment that is formed by the accumulation of wind-blown dust. Ten percent of Earth's land area is covered by loess or similar deposits. Loess is a periglacial or aeolian ...

regions in southern Germany.

Literature

* Franz Krojer: ''Aufschluss des Gäubodens.'' Differenz, München 2006. * Erwin Rutte: ''Rhein – Main – Donau. Eine geologische Geschichte.'' Thobecke, Sigmaringen 1987, . * Dieter Vogel (Hrsg.): ''Der Gäuboden. Heimatbuch.'' Kiebitz Buch, Vilsbiburg 1996, . * Bayerisches Landesamt für Umweltschutz. Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft Ostbayern: ''Lebensraum Donautal. Ergebnisse einer ornitho-ökologischen Untersuchung zwischen Straubing und Vilshofen'', München, Wien, R. Oldenbourg Verlag, 1978 (Schriftenreihe Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege, Heft 11), Lower Bavaria Regions of Bavaria Natural regions of the Alpine Foreland {{Bavaria-geo-stub