Rivers:The main rivers in Germany are:the Rhine (Rhein in German) with a German section
extending 865 km (537 mi) (main tributaries including the Neckar, the Main and the Moselle
(Mosel));the Elbe with a German section of 727 km (452 mi) (also drains into the North Sea); andthe
Danube (Donau) with a German length of 687 km (427 mi).Further important rivers include the Saale
and the Main in central Germany, the Neckar in the southwest, the Weser in the North and the Oder
at the eastern border.Caves: Throughout the Karst rocks many caves were formed especially in the
valley of the Hönne. The biggest culture cave of Europe is located in Balve.Natural resources:Iron ore,
coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, petroleum, natural gas, salt, nickel, and
water.Environment:Current issuesEmissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to
air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulphur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests in Germany;
pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany;
hazardous waste disposal; government (under Chancellor Schröder, SPD) announced intent to end
the use of nuclear power for producing electricity; government working to meet EU commitment to
identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive. Germany's
last glacier is disappearing.[citation needed]International agreementsParty to: Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, WhalingSigned, but not ratified: noneNatural hazardsFlooding through rivers
after heavy rainfall, such as during the 2002 European floods, or Storm surge, such as the North Sea
flood of 1962 and the historic floods of 1362 and 1634 that changed the coastline of what is now the
west coast of Schleswig-Holstein.Phytogeographically, Germany is shared between the Atlantic
European and Central European provinces of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom.
The territory of Germany can be subdivided into two ecoregions: European-Mediterranean montane
mixed forests and Northeast-Atlantic shelf marine. The majority of Germany is covered by either
arable land (33%) or forestry and woodland (31%). Only 15% is covered by permanent
pastures.Plants and animals are those generally common to middle Europe. Beeches, oaks, and other
deciduous trees constitute one-third of the forests; conifers are increasing as a result of
reforestation. Spruce and fir trees predominate in the upper mountains, while pine and larch are
found in sandy soil. There are many species of ferns, flowers, fungi, and mosses. Fish abound in the
rivers and the North Sea. Wild animals include deer, wild boar, mouflon, fox, badger, hare, and small
numbers of beaver. Various migratory birds cross Germany in the spring and autumn.Flora and
fauna:The national parks in Germany include the Wadden Sea National Parks, the Jasmund National
Park, the Vorpommern Lagoon Area National Park, the Müritz National Park, the Lower Oder Valley
National Park, the Harz National Park, the Saxon Switzerland National Park and the Bavarian Forest
National Park.Germany is known for its many zoological gardens, wildlife parks, aquaria, and bird
parks. More than 400 registered zoos and animal parks operate in Germany, which is believed to be
the largest number in any single country of the world. The Zoologischer Garten Berlin is the oldest
zoo in Germany and presents the most comprehensive collection of species in the world.