The ridge of the Damme Hills, which is about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) long and only a few kilometers wide, lies on the southern edge of the North German Plain about 34 kilometres (21 mi) north of the city of Osnabrück. It is located in the Dümmer Nature Park near the town of Damme, which lies in the centre of the region, and between Lohne (some distance to the north), Steinfeld (to the north), Diepholz (roughly east-northeast), Neuenkirchen-Vörden (to the southwest) and Holdorf (to the northwest). To the east the river Hunte flows from south to north past the ridge; to the west the river Hase runs in the same direction.
The Damme Hills lie on the Weser-Ems watershed: All streams and rivers that run eastwards from the ridge, flow via the Hunte into the Weser, those that run westwards flow via the Hase into the Ems.
Together with their almost symmetrical counterpart, the Ankum Heights, the Damme Hills display the most marked glacial lobes of this push moraine. It filled the lowland bay of the Artland. Iron ore is found deep under the hills.
Landscape scenery
In the gently curved ridge of the Damme Hills the wooded rolling hills and valleys alternate with meadows, fields and pastureland e. g. paddock). There are numerous paths for cyclists and hikers to enjoy the natural environment.
The lake known as the Damme Bergsee, roughly 25 ha in area, provides a refuge for rare animals and plants, which are described by means of a nature trail. Many endangered species of plant occur in this area: Of the hitherto 364 vascular plants, 68 species are on Lower Saxony's Red List of endangered types. One particularly notable group of animals are the reptiles, of which 4 species occur here: the grass snake, sand lizard, viviparous lizard and slowworm. From the bird world there are 5 species of woodpecker as well as woodcock, crossbill and pied flycatcher. In 1974 even rollers bred in this wooded area, but were later shot by a farmer. Three of Germany's largest native beetles live here: the stag beetle, rhinoceros beetle and cockchafer.
Places of interest
Steigenberg observation tower
Amongst the places of interest in the Damme Hills, aside from the woods themselves, are the observation towers of the Steigenberg (southwestern area of the ridge) and Mordkuhlenberg (north central area). From the latter there is a view over much of the ridge, the Dümmer Nature Park, Oldenburg Münsterland, the Wiehen Hills and Lake Dümmer. A nature trail on the Damme Bergsee gives information about animals and
Hills
The highest elevations of the Damme Hills are (sorted by height in metres above sea level, NN, mainly based on [1]):
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