From the Oberohe parking lot, the Südheide nature trail begins with a small section of forest and the sandy ground typical of the heath. Through the trees, the view opens up onto an idyllic lake with deep green water. The first thought: Scandinavia.
However, we are in the middle of the South Heath Nature Park and the lake is one of the numerous diatomite pitsalong the path that bear witness to the area's mining history. However, you often have to take a closer look, as nature has long since reclaimed the largest areas. The result is near-natural ponds or former mining pits that are already covered in forest.
The Südheide nature trail continues through a birch forest with lush grasses. And shortly afterwards, "the gold of the heath" awaits us: vast heathland with golden grass that runs through the area in some places. Together with scattered birch trees and dark green juniper bushes, ancient and gnarled, the result is a unique backdrop!
The Südheide nature trail leads through a landscape that could hardly be more varied: Sandy dry locations with extensive heaths and mat-grass meadows. Then there are sparse, hut-like birch forests and pine trees. Sand crunches underfoot. Benches and shelters are inviting. Take a seat, pause for a moment and let your gaze wander over the vast heathland.
A place to dream.
A distant sound can be heard in the silence of the heathland, and a little later small black-brown dots appear on the horizon: a herd of heather sheep is slowly making its way up the gently undulating heathland. The symbolic animal of the Lüneburg Heath, hundreds of animals, along with shepherds and herding dogs. An unforgettable sight. The animal landscape conservationists ensure that this magnificent cultural landscape is preserved every day.
In the past, the landscape of the Oberoher Heide, which is so varied today, was shaped by humans in a completely different way: the Oberoher Heide was an intensively used area, for decades the most important mineral resource of the Lüneburg Heath was mined here: diatomaceous earth.
The gold of the heath
In 1930, the merchant Berkefeld discovered that diatomaceous earth, which until then had been considered useless, could be used in many ways, including in the production of drinking water filters, in clarification for beer and wine production and for powders and pastes. If you look closely, you can see relics of mining, which came to an end in northern Germany in the 1990s, everywhere - lakes and depressions are old mining pits. Diatomaceous earth is still used today in cosmetics, among other things. The whole story is told in the nearby Albert König Museum. And so "the gold of the heath" takes on another meaning: the diatomaceous earth, which was so important for the region for a long time, is also known as "the gold of the heath".
