EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

58 NOMINATION DOSSIER "ANCIENT BEECH FORESTS OF GERMANY"
Geology:
Muschelkalk, Keuper,
Zechstein, Buntsandstein
Climate:
Continental
Soil:
rendzina, terra fusca,
brown soil, leached brown
soil
Predominant beech
forest types:
Galium odorati-Fagetum
Hordelymo-Fagetum
Carici-Fagetum
Right:
Fig. 2.12: Distribution of the
forest communities and other
biotope types in Hainich
lation processes. Steep escarpments to the
Werre valley developed when the Upper
Muschelkalk weathered. Th e eastern hillsides
down to the Th uringian Basin show a
multitude of V-shaped valleys or V-shaped
valleys with a broad fl oor. Minor sinkholes
are found in the eastern half of the territory
which has developed from lixiviation processes
during the Middle Muschelkalk.
Climate
With an annual altitude-dependent volume
of precipitation of approx. 550 – 750 mm
and an average annual mean temperature
of 7 – 8 °C, Hainich lies in the continental
climate zone. Precipitation in and around
Hainich varies markedly by almost 200 mm.
Th ere is an annual average of 30 – 40 fog
days. Th e predominant wind direction is
southwest throughout the national park area.
Soils
Muschelkalk weathering products are
dominant in the national park. Rendzinas
are found in erosion positions on crests
and ridges, on slope sides and escarpments,
forming transitional or permanent phases.
Th is is because Pleistocene mass displacements
would clear out older soils through
solifl uction and slumping processes to leave
behind fresh detrital carbonate. Th e claychalk
rendzina, which is prevalent over the
Upper Muschelkalk, is characterised by
its unbalanced hydrology. Th e colloid-rich
soils are hardly permeable to water and
show a tendency to waterlogging in shallow
synclines. In many cases, plateaus, shallow
crest slopes, and slope hollows are covered
with Terra Fusca. Th ey are overlaid with
aeolic sediments on lower slopes, in hollows
and dry valleys, and on the eastern periphery
of the property. Th e surface is largely
dominated by brown soil-Terra Fusca and
brown soil-leached brown soil (KRUPPA
2000). Th e meadows of the elongated brook
valleys are covered with Holocene river clay.
Water balance
Hainich constitutes the watershed between
the Werra-Weser system and the Unstrut-
Saale-Elbe system. Th e groundwater fl ows
from west to east towards the Th uringian
Basin. Persistently aquiferous streams are
naturally absent due to the geological
structure. Typical features of Hainich are
little summer-dry brook valleys that will
carry water only after snowmelt and heavy
rain.
Standing surface waters are small in size,
being little local patches where the ground
has settled, sealed with layers of clay. Th ey
will fall dry during the summer months for
lack of constant feeding. Th ere are no permanent
standing water bodies in Hainich.
Th e water-impermeable horizon is formed
by the Upper Bunter. Groundwater in
Hainich may be buried at up to 100 m in the
bedrock owing to the superjacent muschelkalk
ridge.
Biotic factors
Biotopes and vegetation
Wood barley-beech forest (Hordelymo-
Fagetum) is the prevalent type here. Th e
forb-rich fresh beech forest on limestone
impresses by its rich populations of early
bloomers. Depending on the site, the wood
barley-beech forest features major wood
garlic or dog's mercury populations (Allium
ursinum, Mercurialis perennis), while the
montane form is populated with Coralroot
(Dentaria bulbifera). On slope edges and
loess covers, the understorey is dominated
by Wood Melick (Melica unifl ora), while
forms rich in ferns are found on shady, cool
north and east-facing slopes. Limestone
indicator species are largely absent in zones
of thicker loess clay covers with superfi cial
acidifi cation (fi g. 2.12).