Trifter

The Black Forest is located in the southwestern state of Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany not far from the borders of France and Switzerland.

Source

Consisting primarily of pine and fir trees in mountains and valleys, the Black Forest region covers some 4,500 square miles. The Black Forest is so named due to the thick tree cover and long shadows present in the area.

Image via Wikipedia

The mountains in the Black Forest region are cut by the continental divide separating the Atlantic Ocean drainage basin, which drains through the Rhine River, and the Black Sea drainage basin which drains through the Danube River. The region was formed during the last glacial period that ended some 12,500 years ago.

The Black Forest today is much smaller than it was in earlier times due to heavy logging. The trees in the region also suffered heavy damage from the extratropical cyclone named Lothar that swept across Central Europe in late 1999. Logging is greatly regulated today in the Black Forest and only allowed under the supervision of Rangers. The main industry of the region is now tourism. Over 14,000 miles of trails for hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and walking exist throughout the Black Forest.

Many of the villages and towns in the area look as they did hundreds of years ago giving visitors the feel as if they have stepped back in time.

Source

Castles and vineyards also dot the landscape and are popular tourist attractions.

Source

The Black Forest has a long mythological tradition as being home to werewolves and witches which adds to its appeal for many tourists. It’s not hard to imagine such creatures living in the area.

Another popular tourist destination in the area is the town of Baden-Baden. The German word Baden means “to bath/bathe”. The natural springs of the area were used by the Romans and ruins of their spas still exist today.

Source

Modern spas and resorts and a casino make Baden-Baden one of Germany’s most visited resort towns.

(Enjoying the spa at Baden-Baden)

The Black Forest is a magical, mystical, haunting and beautiful place to vacation today and is one of Germany’s top tourist attractions.

For more see Cliffs of Moher and Modern Seven Wonders of the World.