Germany

Germany - Laufmaschine

Baron Karl von Drais is credited as being the father of the bicycle. He introduced the “Laufmaschine” in his home town of Mannheim in 1817. It was a two-wheeled machine and required the rider to use their legs in pushing themselves along the road and steering the front wheel while seated in the saddle. The bicycle has evolved to high levels since 1817; it has become the most efficient human powered machine ever designed. Karl von Drais is an example of how Germany has become a leading nation in setting the foundations for others to build on. Germany is not a large country in size or population and yet it has continued to provide the world with enormous contributions in cultural and scientific innovations. Germany is often referred to as the land of writers and thinkers; “das Land der Dichter und Denker.” In fields ranging from astronomy to zoology, Germany has nurtured men and women who have provided the world with complex and simple machines, from rockets to bicycles.

Golden Eagle - Germany

The Siebengebirge area once served as a trachyte quarry. It was purchased by the Prussian state in 1836 and set aside as the first state sponsored reserve. Germany has designated almost 50% of its territory as limited or fully protected environmental reserves, one of the highest percentages in the world.

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Aquila chrysaetos - The golden eagle is the most widely distributed of eagles. It has a range covering Eurasia, North America, and parts of Northern Africa. Male and female pair for life and maintain territories as large as 200 square kilometers. A breeding pair will build several nests, also known as eyries, throughout their territory and use them on an alternating basis. Two eggs are normally produced during each breeding cycle. The eggs are hatched after about 45 days of incubation. It is usually the male’s duty to provide the hatchlings with food.

Cornflower - Germany

Centaurea cyanus - The cornflower, native to Europe, is a member of the Asteraceae family. It is listed as an endangered plant because of the intensification of agriculture in its former native habitat. Although considered a weed, it is a beneficial weed. The cornflower is edible, helps to enrich soils, and serves as a natural pest deterrent. Through its use as an ornamental plant and being appreciated for the vivid blue color, the cornflower is cultivated throughout the world. 

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The Congress of Vienna was convened to re-establish order in Europe following the Napoleonic Wars. It sat from June of 1814 to September of 1815. One of its formations was the German Confederation, a loosely assembled league of 39 sovereign states; Austria, Prussia, and Bavaria were the largest and more powerful. Following several successful wars against Denmark, Austria, and France, the confederation was united under the leadership of Prussia to become the German Empire in 1871.

Antlion - Baden-Württemburg

The Black Forest, “Schwarzwald” in German, is a densely wooded area located in Southwestern Baden-Württemburg. It is approximately 6,000 square kilometers in size and features oak and beech trees along the lower slopes and firs in the higher elevations. The Danube River originates in the Black Forest.

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Euroleon nostras - In its adult stage, the European antlion resembles a dragonfly. It has a body length of about 30 millimeters and a wingspan stretching to 70 millimeters. The average life span of an adult antlion is less than thirty days and dedicated to reproduction. The larvae stage lasts two winters and allows the larvae to pass through three stages of development. Antlions, while in the larvae stage, construct cone-shaped pits in loose sand. These traps direct small insects, falling down the steep sides, into the antlion’s powerful jaws.

Archaeopteryx - Bavaria

Three German states style themselves as “Freistaat” or “free state.” Bavaria has used this description before the establishment of modern Germany through the 1946 constitution. The term does not enhance the status of Bavaria over other German states. Sachsen and Thüringen also use “Freistaat” in their official names.

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Archaeopteryx was a raven sized transitional species bridging the gap between true birds and non-avian feathered dinosaurs. Well preserved fossils have been found in the Solnhofen limestone beds of Bavaria and date back to the Jurassic period, 150 million years ago.  Archaeopteryx, unlike modern birds, had small teeth and a long bone tail. It also featured three claws on each wings, possibly used to snatch up prey or for clinging onto tree branches. The ability to fly may have been limited to short distances or gliding from tree to tree.

German Iris - Berlin

The Margraviate of Brandenburg and the Ducal of Prussia became the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701. Friedrich III, the Elector of Brandenburg, was crowned as Friedrich I. Berlin, a small trading town, merged with four neighboring towns: Friedrichswerder, Cölln, Friedrichstadt, and Dorotheenstadt, to become the capital.

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Iris germanica - The German iris, also referred to as the bearded iris, is a rhizomatous perennial. Rhizomatous plants describe flowering plants with a modified subterranean stem system. This feature is also called a rootstalk and is used by the plant to store nutrients. The rootstalk will generate new plants if separated. The German iris is a cultivated hybrid originating from Europe; it is not a wild species of plant. There are approximately 300 species of iris plants in the family Iridaceae, Greek for “rainbow.”

Central European Red Deer - Brandenburg

A plebiscite held in 1996, six years after Germany’s reunification, offered the people of Berlin and Brandenburg the choice of merging their two states; Berlin is completed surrounded by Brandenburg. The referendum was rejected; most Berliners had voted “yes” but the heavy “no” vote from Brandenburg prevailed. 

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Cervus elaphus hippelaphus - The central European red deer is a subspecies of the red deer, the fourth largest of the Cervus family; the moose, elk, and sambar deer are larger. Antlers begin a rapid growth cycle in spring prior to the rutting season and are shed after winter. Females are smaller in size and lack antlers. The red deer does not migrate. It does move to lower slopes and denser wooded areas during the winter. Both sexes grow a winter coat, with older males developing a noticeable neck mane during the autumn.

European Peacock Butterfly - Bremen

German states are known as a “Bundesland” or “Land” and there are 16 making up the Federal Republic of Germany. The state of Bremen is the smallest of the German states in regard to size and is made up of two enclaves surrounded by Niedersachsen. Both enclaves are situated along the banks of the Weser River.

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Aglais io - A colorful butterfly, the European Peacock is found along the temperate regions stretching from Europe to Japan. It is a resident species throughout much of its range, preferring to winter in buildings or trees. Butterflies rely on crypsis or foul taste as defense against predators; crypsis allows the butterfly to blend in with the natural environment. There is a third line of defense; when threatened, the peacock will opening its wings to flash the four intimidating “eye” spots on its wing tips to ward off any potential predator. 

European Herring Gull - Hamburg

Hamburg and Bremen are two German city states using the term “Hansestad” in their official names. The term is a reflection of their association to the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive alliance established in 1358. Founded in Lübeck, the Hanseatic League eventually stretched across the North and Baltic Seas.

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Larus argentatus - A typical male European herring gull is 60 to 65 centimeters long and weighs 1 to 1.5 kilograms; females are smaller. Wingspans range from 125 to 155 centimeters. The populations from the extreme northern range will migrate to the coastal areas of Northern Spain and Portugal, but most herring gulls are year-long residents. There is a loose pecking order within flocks with males having first choice of food or prevailing in settling boundary disputes and females having the final say in choosing nesting sites.

Ammonites - Hessen

Central Europe’s largest basalt formation is located in the Vogelsberg Mountains, a region in Northeastern Hessen. Basalt is an igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of basaltic lava at or near the earth’s surface. A multitude of layers descend from the peaks to the base of the Vogelsberg in ring-shaped formations.

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Ammonites are extinct cephalopods found throughout the open seas from the Paleozoic to the Cretaceous periods. The chambered nautilus is its closest living relative. Ammonites are “index fossils” and provide useful information in labeling the rock layers containing the ammonite fossils to specific geological time periods. During the Cretaceous-Paleogene event, about 66 million years ago, ammonites, non-avian dinosaurs, and three-quarters of the earth’s plant and animal life became extinct by an impact of a large comet or meteorite.

Common European Adder - Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Roztoc was a settlement established along the Warnow River by Polabian Slavs in the 11th century. The town was abandoned after being sacked by Valdemar I of Denmark in 1161. Germanic traders quickly resettled the area and a new town, Rostock, emerged to become an important trading center situated on the Baltic coast.

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Vipera berus - The common European adder is found in large numbers throughout Western Europe. It is a venomous snake, but not dangerous. It will only strike as a last resort when confronted with danger, but a bite is seldom fatal. Pregnant females will usually emit a hissing sound to warn intruders to stay away. Females give live birth from July to October with litters ranging from three to twenty individuals. The young are encased in a translucent member; after breaking free, they usually stay in the vicinity of the mother for several days. 

German Wasp - Niedersachsen

The East Frisian Islands are situated not more than 10 kilometers from the coast of Niedersachsen. The islands are separated from the mainland by extensive mudflats known as the Watten. The small North Sea archipelago stretches for 90 kilometers. Borkum, with an area of 31 square kilometers, is the largest of the 7 islands.

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Vespula germanica - The German wasp is native to Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia, but has been introduced to parts of Oceania and the Americas; in North America it is known as a yellowjacket. German wasps use their powerful mandibles to rasp fibers from wood. The fibers are mixed with saliva and used to build and maintain nests; underground sites are preferred. A single colony contains about 10,000 individuals. Colonies begin to decline in number and activity during the fall and rarely survive for more than one season.

Wild Daffodil - Nordrhein-Westfalen

The Rhein River, at 1,230 kilometers, is the second longest river in Central Europe; the Donau is first. Starting in Switzerland, the Rhein flows through or serves as a natural border between several countries before emptying into the North Sea. Köln is the largest city on the  Rhein and also the largest city in Nordrhein-Westfalen.

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Narcissus pseudonarcissus - Wild daffodils are native to Western Europe and are cultivated for ornamental purposes. It is a perennial grown from bulbs, each one producing a single flower ranging in height from 22 to 37 centimeters. The flower is made up of 3 petals and 3 sepals surrounding a distinctive trumpet shaped crown; sepals provide protection for the flower as a bud and help support the petals when in bloom. Daffodils are hardy plants found in woodlands, grassy meadows, and rocky areas throughout March and April.

Gutenberg Press - Rheinland-Pfalz

The Riesling grape, a white variety known for its distinctive aroma, originated in the Rhein region and is the most abundant grape grown in Germany. It has made Rheinland-Pfalz Germany’s leading wine producing area. Of the thirteen wine producing regions in Germany, six are located in Rheinland-Pfalz.

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Started as a cultural movement in Florence, Italy during the 13th century, the European Renaissance felt a tremendous surge with Johannes Gutenberg’s advanced printing methods. He built an improved press, was the first to use oil-based inks, and designed a moveable type made from lead, tin, and antimony. By 1500, Gutenberg’s ideas had spread beyond his small shop in Mainz; he created a new industry spawning hundreds of print shops capable of producing millions of books for an eager public hungry for knowledge.

Common Midwife Toad - Saarland

With the conclusion of World War I, the Saar area was occupied by British and French forces. In 1935, a plebiscite was held offering the citizens three choices; reunification with Germany, a permanent merger with France or remaining under French occupation. By an overwhelming majority, the voters opted for returning to Germany.

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Alytes obstetricans - In the case of the common midwife toad, it is entirely the male’s duty to overseer the task of delivering the young. For protection, the eggs are secured to his limbs or carried on his back until they are ready to hatch; three to eight weeks. The male’s back has parotoid glands, an external skin gland able to release a pungent smell or a bufotoxin to warn off potential predators. These parotoid glands are often mistaken for warts. Midwife toads can also make themselves appear larger by inflating their bodies with air.

Slippery Jack Mushroom - Sachsen

With Napoleon’s abolishment of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the Electorate of Saxony was raised to an independent kingdom under Frederick Augustus I and joined the Confederation of the Rhine, a French client state. The confederation collapsed in 1813, a result of the French defeat in the Battle of Leipzig.

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Suillus luteus - Known as “Butterpilz” in German, the slippery Jack mushroom derives its name from the slimy coating covering the cap during moist weather. The mushroom, with the slimy coating washed away, is edible, but not highly regarded. As with most mushrooms, the slippery Jack forms symbiotic relationships with trees by enveloping the root system in a protective sheath. This coating assists the roots with absorbing water and nutrients from the soil. In return, the tree provides the mushroom with access to carbohydrates.

Common Raven - Sachsen-Anhalt

Germany is much smaller than China or the United States, but ranks as the third most productive country for installed wind power capacity; China is first, the United States is second. Sachsen-Anhalt leads the other fifteen German states in the percentage of electrical power it is able to generate through wind power.

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Corvus corax - Found in abundant numbers throughout the Northern Hemisphere, the common raven is one of the largest passerine birds; an adult stands 54 to 67 centimeters in height, weighs from .69 to 2 kilograms, and has a wingspan of 115 to 130 centimeters. The most notable feature of the raven is its black iridescence color. Iridescence occurs when a object has the ability to change color in relation to the angle of observation and illumination. Ravens differ from crows: they are larger, have shaggy feathers, and wedge-shaped tails.

German Chamomile - Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig-Holstein fell into Prussian hands in 1864. The German Navy pressed for a canal to be built across the Jutland Peninsula to connect the North and Baltic Seas. Work began in 1887 and was completed in 1895. The original name was Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal, but it was changed to Nord-Ostsee Kanal after World War I.

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Matricaria recutita - German chamomile is one of several species of chamomile plants belonging to the Asteraceae family; daisies and sunflowers. The name is derived from the Greek word “chamaimēlon” and translates as “earth-apple,” a reference to the plant’s strong scent. Chamomile is an annual plant growing between 15 and 60 centimeters. Flowers bloom in early or middle summer. Although considered a weed, the plant has anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties and is often harvested for medicinal purposes.

White Stork - Thüringen

The city of Weimar served as the site for the meeting of a national assembly convened to form a new government for Germany after World War I. Although the new government to emerge was unofficially known as the “Weimar Republic,” Germany retained “Deutsches Reich” as its official name; “German Empire.”

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Ciconia ciconia - Europe serves as the primary breeding ground for the white stork; Africa and some parts of the Indian subcontinent serve as the wintering grounds. Storks do not pair for life, but a breeding couple will stay together for the duration of the season to care for the young. A clutch of four eggs is typical and they are hatched within 33 to 34 days. Stronger chicks do not show an aggressive tendency towards their weaker siblings, but parents have been known to kill small or weaker chicks when food supplies are insufficient.