Schmarloh
Encyclopedia
The Schmarloh is a ridge in the Südheide heath in the eastern part of the state of Lower Saxony
in Germany
, that lies between Groß Oesingen
(Gifhorn district) and Lachendorf
(Celle district) north of the Wiehe Stream. Its highest point is the 69 metre high Jahrnsloh Berg, 2 km southwest of Groß Oesingen. It covers an area of 654 square kilometres (252.5 sq mi).
Originally the Schmarloh was an end moraine that was formed in the Drenthe-II stage of the Ice Age
about 230,000 years ago. Several ice sheets after another at an interval of about a thousand years pushed across the existing hills of loose stone and sand, repeatedly depositing material on the tundra
-like areas which were reshaped by water and wind each time.
Schmarloh is also part of the municipality of Groß Oesingen.
is used to harness wind energy
. A long-drawn out debate in the media for and against the original plans for a very large wind park earned the Schmarloh pan-regional fame. In 2004 a smaller project for 13 wind generator
s was approved. These have since been built and placed into operation.
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, that lies between Groß Oesingen
Groß Oesingen
Groß Oesingen is a municipality in the district of Gifhorn, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
(Gifhorn district) and Lachendorf
Lachendorf
Lachendorf is a municipality in the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 10 km east of Celle.Lachendorf is also the seat of the Samtgemeinde Lachendorf.-History:...
(Celle district) north of the Wiehe Stream. Its highest point is the 69 metre high Jahrnsloh Berg, 2 km southwest of Groß Oesingen. It covers an area of 654 square kilometres (252.5 sq mi).
Originally the Schmarloh was an end moraine that was formed in the Drenthe-II stage of the Ice Age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
about 230,000 years ago. Several ice sheets after another at an interval of about a thousand years pushed across the existing hills of loose stone and sand, repeatedly depositing material on the tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
-like areas which were reshaped by water and wind each time.
Schmarloh is also part of the municipality of Groß Oesingen.
Economy
In addition to its traditional use for agriculture and forestry, part of the Schmarloh north of HohneHohne
Hohne is a municipality in the state of Lower Saxony in Germany, east of the county town of Celle. It includes the three former parishes of Hohne, Helmerkamp and Spechtshorn...
is used to harness wind energy
Wind energy
Wind energy is the kinetic energy of air in motion; see also wind power.Total wind energy flowing through an imaginary area A during the time t is:E = ½ m v2 = ½ v 2...
. A long-drawn out debate in the media for and against the original plans for a very large wind park earned the Schmarloh pan-regional fame. In 2004 a smaller project for 13 wind generator
Wind generator
A wind generator is a device that generates electrical power from wind energy.Wind generators have traditionally been wind turbines, i.e. a propeller attached to an electric generator attached to appropriate electronics to attach it to the electrical grid or to charge batteries.Recently, however, a...
s was approved. These have since been built and placed into operation.