The area of the "Reussdelta" (Figure 27) has a wealth of habitats and is for several water birds, such as pochard, an important site to overwinter. Moreover it is also an important place for human utilization, where since more than 100 years mining of gravel has strongly influenced the natural dynamics of the river's landscape.

In the year 1985 the "Reussdeltagesetz" was lanced, it is a law issued to various users which aims to respect the protection of the area. The originally canalized "Reuss" river flows in three river branches ending into the "Urnersee" lake and forms a river delta in harmony with nature.

In the estuary the landscape was newly designed to create a small island archipelago "Lorelei-Inseln", by using among others, approximately 3.3mio. t excavated material removed during the construction of the longest train tunnel of the world, NEAT-Gotthard base tunnel. The area is a favored place for leisure and recreation and is an important habitat for a variety of plant and animal species (REUSSDELTA).

 

Their walking path went along several little streams, over wooden bridges and through a densely vegetated area. Getting closer to the lake, they spotted the white sand of the "Lorelei" islands (Figure 28), which were surrounded by the turquoise blue of the lake.