{{more citations needed, date=September 2014 Alsaceregionsnaturelles

The Grand Ried is an Alsatian natural region which is part of the Ried. It shows landscapes typical of the Ried. To the west, it is delimited by the

Ill ILL may refer to: * '' I Love Lucy'', a landmark American television sitcom * Illorsuit Heliport (location identifier: ILL), a heliport in Illorsuit, Greenland * Institut Laue–Langevin, an internationally financed scientific facility * Interlibra ...

, and by the

Rhine ), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland , source1_coordinates= , source1_elevation = , source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein , source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland , source2_coordinates= , so ...

to the east. It stretches between Strasbourg and Colmar. It was formed by the meandering Rhine (and Ill), before it was canalised. The Rhine used to spread its sediments when inundations occurred. Today the Rhine is corseted between embankments. The

Erstein Erstein (, ; gsw, label= Alemannic, Eerstain) is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department, in the region of Grand Est, France. History An important necropolis from the Merovingian era (6th-7th century) has been excavated near Erstein in 1999– ...

polder is used to regulate the flow of the Rhine, thus avoiding inundations. It has been listed as a national nature reserve since 1989. As a matter of fact, it is still possible to discover in the reserve the biodiversity which used to exist when the Grand Ried was wild and the Rhine was not canalised. The commune of

Rhinau Rhinau (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Bas-Rhin Departments of France, department of Grand Est in north-eastern France. Until 1398, the village was located on the bank of the Rhine. The present village dates from the sixteenth cent ...

presents a unique feature: it possesses an area of almost 1000 ha directly at the border, however on German soil. This is Rheinau. The landscape is characterised by numerous ''Baggersee'' (German word used in Alsace and meaning lakes forming once sand and gravel pits have been shut down) and sand pits which are still being operated.

Nature reserves

There are national nature reserves: * Île de Rhinau * Île du Rohrschollen * Massif forestier de Strasbourg-Neuhof/Illkirch-Graffenstaden as well as a regional nature reserve: * Forêt de l'Illwald (next to Sélestat) Let us mention that there is a nature reserve in Rheinau: * Taubergießen on German soil.

Renewable energy

In Marckolsheim,

, Gerstheim as well as Strasbourg hydro-electricity is produced by France. :de:Rhein#Kraftwerke am Rhein

External links

Tourism Office of the Grand Ried

References

Geography of Grand Est France–Germany border

Nature reserves

Renewable energy

See also

External links

References