In the Black Forest

The Black Forest owes its name to the Romans. When they advanced into the territory of the Germanic peoples 2,000 years ago, the forests in the Black Forest’s mountains and valleys seemed especially dark and impenetrable to them. They called it "Silva nigra". That is Latin for “black forest.” The Black Forest lies in southwestern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is about 160 km long and 30 to 60 km wide, but has no fixed boundaries. To the west, it is bordered by the Upper Rhine Plain, formed by the Rhine. The region is divided into the Northern, Central and Southern Black Forest. Mountain ranges such as the Black Forest are classified as mid-mountain ranges. The largest towns in the Black Forest are Baden-Baden, Calw, Freudenstadt, Pforzheim, Villingen-Schwenningen, Freiburg, Titisee-Neustadt and Waldshut-Tiengen. There are about 60 mountains higher than 1,000 meters. The highest peaks are in the Southern Black Forest: Feldberg is 1,493 meters high, Belchen 1,414 meters and Herzogenhorn 1,415 meters. Hornisgrinde in the Northern Black Forest reaches a height of 1,164 meters. The Breg and Brigach, the two source rivers of the Danube, rise in the Black Forest. The Wutach forms one of Germany’s most beautiful river landscapes. Other Black Forest rivers include the Neckar, Dreisam, Elz, Kinzig, Murg and Wehra. The largest lake in the Black Forest is Lake Titisee. Nearby is Lake Schluchsee, which was artificially dammed to its present size. There are about 100 waterfalls. At 163 m high, the "Triberg Waterfalls" are among the tallest waterfalls in Germany. With a thunderous roar, Todtnau Waterfall plunges 97 m into the depths. The Black Forest is now Germany’s largest forested area. That wasn’t always the case. About 150 years ago, large areas of forest had been cleared. At the time, people made their living mainly from farming and forestry. They felled many trees and sold the timber to the Netherlands and the Ruhr region. Forest timber is still used today, but care is taken to ensure enough trees grow back. People have come to understand how important forests are to the environment. Many people come here to find peace and relaxation in beautiful, forested surroundings.