Sampling areas
The sampling areas have been selected to represent adequately the major types of ecosystems in Germany and taking into account the varying intensities of anthropogenic impact and land use.
In overall terms these areas reflect a broad cross-section of environmental conditions in Germany.
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The only high mountains national park in Germany and an area of the Limestone Alps with international relevance
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Important, old-industrialised conurbation in Germany.
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Main water divide between the North- and Baltic Sea
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Longest river in Germany
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Germany's first national park
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National Park in the largest brackish water (Bodden) habitat of the world.
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National park in the world largest connected sand and mud flats.
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Fourth largest river basin in Central Europe
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Region in the chemical triangle of Central Germany
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Germany's largest forest national park
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Second highest and largest low mountain range in Northern Germany
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Germany's largest connected forest area in a range of low mountains
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The Upper Bavarian Tertiary Uplands are a part of the Southern German Molasse Basin
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Second largest river in Europe
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4 university cities as sampling areas.
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Important university city, as well as service and administration centre in Northrhine-Westphalia.
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Small university town in a sparsely populated area of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
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The biggest town in Saxony-Anhalt and an old industrial centre of the former GDR with considerable structural changes since 1990.
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Small university city in southern Germany at the river Danube.