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The Bückeberg (; also the Bückeberge) is a small
hill range A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have arise ...
, up to high, in the Calenberg Uplands between the Harrl and the
Deister The Deister () is a chain of hills in the Germany, German state of Lower Saxony, about 15 mi (25 km) southwest of the city of Hanover. It runs in a north-westerly direction from Springe in the south to Rodenberg in the north. The next i ...
in central
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
, and is often considered part of the Weser Uplands. It lies in the district of Schaumburg, and stretches for some from west to east from Bückeburg and the village of Bad Eilsen towards Bad Nenndorf.


Topography

The ridge runs from southwest to northeast for about at heights of to about . It only has a few summits, like the Bückeberg (or ''Diebische Ecke'') (ca. ), east of the track junction on the ''Eulenburg'' Way, and the ''Großer Karl'' () near Reinsdorf. Here its course swings north and ends with the foothills of ''Münchhausener Berg'' and ''Heisterberg'' near Beckedorf. The gentle northern
dip slope A dip slope is a topographic or geomorphic surface which slopes in the same direction, and often by the same angle, as the true dip or apparent dip of the underlying strata.Jackson, JA, J Mehl and K Neuendorf (2005) ''Glossary of Geology.'' Ame ...
descends into the North German Plain, whilst the steeper southern scarp slope drops into the Aue valley, through which the A 2 autobahn runs. The Heeßer Berge in the west is a
nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologic ...
. The ridge is cut through in two places: at Bad Eilsen near the western end, where the river Aue has cut a gap in the ridge, and at the Reinser Paß (pass) near the eastern end.


Geology

The crest of the Bückeberg consists of a hard, light
sandstone Sandstone is a Clastic rock#Sedimentary clastic rocks, clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of grain size, sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate mineral, silicate grains, Cementation (geology), cemented together by another mineral. Sand ...
known as Obernkirchen sandstone, which is one of the best in Europe and, because of its transshipment through
Bremen Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (, ), is the capital of the States of Germany, German state of the Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (), a two-city-state consisting of the c ...
, is known internationally as "Bremen Sandstone". The western Bückeberg contains clay and anthracite that used to be mined here. In the eastern section, there are Jurassic
limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
s with
halite Halite ( ), commonly known as rock salt, is a type of salt, the mineral (natural) form of sodium chloride ( Na Cl). Halite forms isometric crystals. The mineral is typically colorless or white, but may also be light blue, dark blue, purple, pi ...
(rock salt) deposits. It is here near Soldorf that the
brine Brine (or briny water) is a high-concentration solution of salt (typically sodium chloride or calcium chloride) in water. In diverse contexts, ''brine'' may refer to the salt solutions ranging from about 3.5% (a typical concentration of seawat ...
springs emerge which extend to the spa town of Bad Nenndorf, where they are used for bathing.


Hills in the Bückeberg

The hills and high points of the Bückeberg include the following − sorted by height in metres (m) above sea level ( Normalhöhennull or NHN): * Diebische Ecke ( m),
Topographic map In modern mapping, a topographic map or topographic sheet is a type of map characterized by large- scale detail and quantitative representation of relief features, usually using contour lines (connecting points of equal elevation), but histori ...

Diebische Ecke
un

(DTK 25; for hill heights see map enlargement), at natur-erleben.niedersachsen.de
Wiegmann, Wilhelm, ''Heimatkunde des Fürstentums Schaumburg-Lippe'', which however gives the height of the ''Diebische Ecke'' as 367 m, the height of the nearby trig point. between Liekwegen and Rehren * unnamed summit (; see '' Military use'' section), between Hörkamp and Altenhagen * Großer Karl (), between Hörkamp, Reinsdorf and Sundern * Steinberg (), between Krainhagen and Rolfshagen * Heeßer Berge (), between Bad Eilsen, Krainhagen and Rolfshagen * Harrlberg (), on the Harrl ridge between Bad Eilsen and Bückeburg * Münchhausener Berg (), between Heuerßen and Groß Hegesdorf * Heisterberg (), southwest of Beckedorf


Streams

Numerous streams drain the Bückeberg and feed the Aue (Bückeburger Aue) and the Rodenberger Aue. Several of them are only winterbournes. * Hühnerbach * Kalterbach * Krebshäger Bach * Flothbach * Bornau * Vornhäger Bach * Hessbach * Flahbach * Salzbach * Riesbach * Tiefersicksbeeke


Flora and fauna

The Bückeberg is covered in mixed woods of beech and spruce, but there are also many other types of tree like the
coast Douglas-fir ''Pseudotsuga menziesii'' var. ''menziesii'', commonly known as Coast Douglas-fir, Pacific Douglas-fir, Oregon pine, or Douglas spruce, is an evergreen conifer native to western North America from west-central British Columbia, Canada southward t ...
,
birch A birch is a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus ''Betula'' (), in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams. It is closely related to the beech- oak family Fagaceae. The genus ''Betula'' contains 3 ...
,
maple ''Acer'' is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples. The genus is placed in the soapberry family Sapindaceae.Stevens, P. F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 9, June 2008 nd more or less continuously updated si ...
, and
hornbeam Hornbeams are hardwood trees in the plant genus ''Carpinus'' in the family Betulaceae. Its species occur across much of the temperateness, temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names The common English name ''hornbeam'' derives ...
. In addition there are many species of wild flower including the spring snowflake, mezereon, common broom, and various
fern The ferns (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) are a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissue ...
s and
fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...
. The Bückeberg is home to the roe deer, mouflon, and
wild boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a Suidae, suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The speci ...
. More rarely seen are the
barn owl The barn owls, owls in the genus '' Tyto'', are the most widely distributed genus of owls in the world. They are medium-sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful talons. The ter ...
,
common kestrel The common kestrel (''Falco tinnunculus''), also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel or Old World kestrel, is a species of bird of prey, predatory bird belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family (biology), family Falconidae. ...
,
red kite The red kite (''Milvus milvus'') is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other Diurnality, diurnal Bird of prey, raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harrier (bird), harriers. The species currently breeds only i ...
,
pine marten The European pine marten (''Martes martes''), also known as the pine marten, is a mustelid native to and widespread in most of Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and parts of Iran, Iraq, and Syria. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red Lis ...
, and stone marten.


Economic utilisation

In addition to
forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests and woodlands for associated resources for human and Natural environment, environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and ...
,
quarry A quarry is a type of open-pit mining, open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock (geology), rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some juri ...
ing plays an important role. The Obernkirchen sandstone of the Bückeberg has been used in many well-known buildings, such as
Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral (, , officially , English: Cathedral Church of Saint Peter) is a cathedral in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia belonging to the Catholic Church. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and of the administration of the Archd ...
, the town halls in
Bremen Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (, ), is the capital of the States of Germany, German state of the Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (), a two-city-state consisting of the c ...
, and
Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
and the stock exchange in
Bergen Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo. By May 20 ...
, Norway.
Coal Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other Chemical element, elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal i ...
has also been mined in Bückeberg for centuries.


Military use

On the Bückeberg near Obernkirchen at the northeastern end of the ridgeway is a former
NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...
anti-aircraft missile station. The terrain, which has grown wild since the withdrawal of Dutch soldiers, is surrounded by fencing and, today, is almost solely used for landing exercises by helicopters from the nearby School of Army Aviation in Bückeburg. Occasionally, tented exercises lasting several days by Training Group (''Lehrgruppe'') B take place on the site.


Leisure activities

There are a number of scenic walking trails on the Bückeberg with views over the valleys, but also many gloomy forestry tracks without any signing. When walking it is advisable to take maps and the relevant information. On the Bückeberg near Obernkirchen there is the Youth Training Leisure Centre (''Jugend-Bildung-Freizeit-Zentrum'' or ''JBF-Zentrum'').


Forest restaurants in and around the Bückeberg

* ''Süße Mutter'' - forest restaurant in Auetal-Rolfshagen- open again since June 2006. * ''Gasthaus Walter'' (from 1870 to 1996 in the ownership of the Walter family) was reopened in June 2008 as "Rainer Ballin's Event-Gasthof Walter zum Bückeberg".


Towns and villages of the Bückeberg

* Ahnsen * Apelern * Auetal * Bad Eilsen * Bad Nenndorf * Beckedorf * Heeßen * Heuerßen * Nienstädt * Obernkirchen *
Rodenberg Rodenberg () is a town in the Landkreis Schaumburg, district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the northwestern edge of the Deister hills, approx. 10 km east of Stadthagen, and 27 km west of Hanover. Rodenberg ...
* Stadthagen


History

* In the quarries, there are many traces of
dinosaur Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria. They first appeared during the Triassic Geological period, period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago (mya), although the exact origin and timing of the #Evolutio ...
s. Paleontological discoveries in September 2008 caused a worldwide sensation. In the quarry on the Bückeberg, dinosaur tracks were found including those of raptors, which were of great scientific importance. Five footprint casts of an
iguanodon ''Iguanodon'' ( ; meaning 'iguana-tooth'), named in 1825, is a genus of iguanodontian dinosaur. While many species found worldwide have been classified in the genus ''Iguanodon'', dating from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, Taxonomy (bi ...
may be seen today in Bad Nenndorf near the castle. Similar casts from the Bückeberg may also be viewed in Bückeburg, Obernkirchen and other locations. * At Hühnerbach near Obernkirchen are the ruins of an old Saxon fortress, the Bückeburg with its
circular rampart A circular rampart () is an embankment built in the shape of a circle that was used as part of the defences for a military fortification, hill fort or refuge, or was built for religious purposes or as a place of gathering. The period during which ...
s. * On the ''Heisterberg'' near Beckedorf is the Heisterschlösschen, a circular rampart with a diameter dating to the 10th century.


Etymology

On several maps the hills are called the "Bückeberge" ("Bücke hills"). In the Lower Saxon dialect it is not unusual to treat such a name as singular (''Wir gehen zum Bückeberge'' = "we are going to the Bückeberge"). In the Nazi era, attempts were made to rename the Bückeberg in Schaumburg as the "Bückeburg Forest" or "Bückeberge", in order to distinguish it from the hills of the same name near Hagenohsen, where the Reich's harvest festival was celebrated. Occasionally, the plural is found even before 1933 in old maps. On official maps the plural form was first used in 1961. The Lower Saxony State Survey Department (''Landesvermessungsamt Niedersachsen'' or ''LGN'') laid down in 2005 that the name Bückeberg would be used for the ridge in its fullest extent, so that the traditional name, used for centuries, has now been adopted on the maps. The Bückeberg lies in the old Germanic district (''Gau'') of Bukkigau (Bukki =
beech Beech (genus ''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to subtropical (accessory forest element) and temperate (as dominant element of Mesophyte, mesophytic forests) Eurasia and North America. There are 14 accepted ...
), and therefore means the "hill in the beeches" (''Berg im Bukki'') or the "Beech Hill" (''Buchen-Berg'').


Myths

Old folk tales tell of the so-called "Böxenwolf", a type of
werewolf In folklore, a werewolf (), or occasionally lycanthrope (from Ancient Greek ), is an individual who can shapeshifting, shapeshift into a wolf, or especially in modern film, a Shapeshifting, therianthropic Hybrid beasts in folklore, hybrid wol ...
, which ambushed lone travellers walking through the Bückeberg, or even between the surrounding villages, at night. It would jump on their back and then jump off again after a while.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buckeberg Central Uplands Ridges of Lower Saxony Natural regions of the Weser-Leine Uplands