A whisper of leaves and the scent of damp earth greets us. This is Oberwald-Rißnert a forest conservation area. It is part of the larger Oberwald in Karlsruhe. Oberwald-Rißnert has been a Waldschutzgebiet since May 31 1988.
Oberwald itself is the largest forest area. It lies within Karlsruhe’s Kinzig-Murg-Rinne area. The Oberwald sits south of Karlsruhe’s center. It is in the Rhine plain. The Karlsruhe Südtangente bounds it to the north. This is a highway-like road. Bundesautobahn 5 and the Autobahndreieck Karlsruhe border it to the east and south. To the west the Karlsruhe districts of Dammerstock and Rüppurr mark the edge. They separate it from the Alb river.
Like the neighboring Weiherwald the Oberwald lies in an old river lowland. After the ice age the river split. It formed various arms. Remnants of these arms are still visible today. Several small bodies of water run through the Oberwald. These include the artificial Scheidgraben. Two excavated lakes are in the Oberwald. There is the Oberwaldsee and the Erlachsee. The Erlachsee was created during highway construction. It is fenced off. It can be up to twelve meters deep.
Oberwald has been a Landschaftsschutzgebiet since March 29 1977. It covers 573.2 hectares. The Naturschutzgebiet Erlachsee lies within. It is 16.4 hectares. This was designated on November 20 1983.
The forest mainly consists of pedunculate oaks and hornbeams. Spring anemones grow abundantly. You can also see lesser celandine meadowfoam and red deadnettle. The Oberwald is rich in insects. Butterflies like the blue oak hairstreak thrive here. The Erlachsee is a haven for wading birds and waterfowl.
At the northern edge of the Oberwald sits the Durlacher Wald waterworks. Robert Gerwig planned it. It began operating in 1871. It features a striking water tower stump. Today it is rarely used due to nearby highways and a freight station. Various sports facilities border Dammerstock and Rüppurr. Sports fields also lie to the east. These include the Oberwaldstadion and a shooting range. The shooting range is near the Oberwaldsee.
In the northern part of the Oberwald is the Tierpark Oberwald. It spans 16 hectares. It was established in 1965. It originated from the Karlsruhe Zoo. It is freely accessible. It features large outdoor enclosures. These house Przewalski’s horses Mesopotamian fallow deer kiang and more. You can also see goiter gazelles and wisent.
The Rißnert Run takes place annually. It runs through the Rißnert and the Oberwald. Jogging paths of 3 5 7 and 10 km are marked in the Oberwald. Find an orientation plan south of the Wasserwerkbrücke.
During the construction of the Südtangente in 1969 large quantities of gravel were extracted. This created the Erlachsee. Canals were built after a flood in May 1970. They discharge flood water from the Alb. The Seegraben Hägenichgraben and Scheidgraben feed these canals.
Many shallow round depressions remain in the Oberwald. These are bomb craters. They resulted from errant or emergency drops during air raids. Today they provide habitats for amphibians. Oberwald-Rißnert stands as a testament to nature’s resilience. It offers a space for recreation wildlife and quiet contemplation.