Inland dune Klein Schmölen

There are not many natural elevations in the Elbe valley floodplain, which should certainly please cyclists. This makes the inland dunes at Klein Schmölen near Dömitz, which can be seen from afar from the Elbe riverbank road, all the more interesting. The largest inland dune in Europe rises impressively on the edge of the Mecklenburg Elbe Valley Nature Park. From its highest point, around 42 meters above sea level, visitors have a magnificent view over the Löcknitz lowlands in Mecklenburg, the Lenzener Wische in Brandenburg and the Elbe foreland on the Lower Saxony side. The fascinating dune complex, which is a good two kilometers long, was formed at the end of the last ice age, around 12,000 years ago. Special climatic and very different soil conditions have allowed an extremely diverse plant world to develop here, which in turn provides a habitat for rare and protected species of birds and insects. The dune can be walked through on designated paths, and information boards along the way provide information about the special features of the geological formation. Guided tours are also offered on a regular basis.