Germany's Black Forest (Schwarzwald)
Germany's landscape and history has allowed for plenty of vintage destinations and long-standing natural reserves to exist amidst its ever-modernizing world.
One of its more famous, and frequently visited natural habitats is the Black Forest Region, known as Schwarzwald by native speakers. Rivers that can be found within it include the Danube, the Neckar, the Rench, the Enz, the Murg, and the Kinzig. It is also part of the continental divide between the Atlantic Ocean catchment and the Black sea. It is blessed with a long-winding rich mythological landscape, often said to be haunted by otherworldly forces such as werewolves, witches, sorcerers and the devil himself in different disguises. This is also one of the reasons why it got the name “Black Forest,” -- because of the dark nature of its mythologies. However, to even out the scales, the mythological creatures in the forest also include helpful dwarves.
The Black Forest is fundamentally known for three specific features-- its location on the highlands, the wonderful scenery and woods, and the typical Black Forest Gateau which finds its triumph on delectable cherry shnapps and the classic cuckoo-clock.
The Black Forest got its name from earlier times, when the forest was seemingly impentrable albeit allowing many to profit from it. The forest provided wood, silver and ore, resources that provided the foundations of the considerable wealth that the Black Forest inhabitants have accumulated. The wood trade led to the crteation of the clock-making industry, which has been successful since the 17th century.
Other famous features of the Black Forest region included the traditional, uniquely-designed hats that featured huge pompoms, caled the Bollenhut, produced by the inhabitants of the forest. These distinctive hats were part of Germany's more traditional costumes. In fact, the hat manged to propel itself to world-wide fame, even though it was only originally worn during special occasions and only three parishes in the Black Forest region.
