Døndalen
Døndalen is a picturesque valley in the northern part of the Danish island of Bornholm. Located next to the road from Gudhjem to Tejn, it is famous for its quaint waterfall, Denmark's longest.[1]
Description
Døndalen, which covers an area of 37 hectares (91 acres), is one of Bornholm's rift valleys cutting through the granite rock. The wooded area reaches inland from the coast. The valley is particularly beautiful in springtime when it is covered with anenomes and ramsons with their distinctive smell. The song of nightingales can often be heard.[2]
Background
It appears that Døndalen has been wooden since the last ice age some 10,000 years ago. Over the past 7,000 years, the trees have been deciduous. There have been various archeological finds in the valley including burial sites and evidence of cremations. It is something of a mystery how a sword in a wooden sheath and gilded pearls of glass arrived there. As part of the island's defences in the 16th century, earthworks were completed at the bottom of the valley next to the shore. With canons and rifle fire, the embankments provided protection against the enemy. They can still be seen today.</ref name=naturpdf>
Landscape
Half way up the valley, the brook known as Døndaleåen falls some Vorlage:Convert, forming Denmark's largest waterfall. The rocky banks on the northwestern side rise some Vorlage:Convert to the Amtmandsstenen viewpoint which looks out over the Baltic Sea to Christiansø. The brook is Vorlage:Convert long, running from Dammemose near Klemensker and on to Spellinge Mose. The stretch from Røvejen (the road from Rø to Olsker) to the coast is especially interesting with varying scenery and the waterfall. For most of the year, there is only a trickle of water in the brook but in winter the waterfall can be impressive.[3]
Fauna and flora
Døndalen enjoys active birdlife, particularly in the spring with nightingales, blackcaps, garden warblers, treecreepers and chaffinches. Buzzards can often be heard above the treetops. In the winter months, dippers feed in the stream. Early in the morning, deer can often be seen in the woods. Salmon and other fish frequent the stream.Referenzfehler: Es fehlt ein schließendes </ref>. In 1916, Aksel Jensen, a farmer, cultivated the northeastern side of Døndalen. His interest in trees led him to plant some 150 varieties from throughout the world. They include Chinese cork oak, Californian mammoth trees, Himalayan spruce and also a rare European variety, the chequer tree.[4]
External links
References
- ↑ "Døndalen - Danmarks største vandfald", Explore Bornholm. Vorlage:Da icon Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ↑ "Døndalen på Bornholm", Danmarks Naturfond. Vorlage:Da icon Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ↑ "Landskabet i Døndalen", Danmarks Naturfond. Vorlage:Da icon Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ↑ "Døndalen", Danmarks Naturfond. Vorlage:Da icon Retrieved 31 October 2012.