"Let nature be nature" – that is the aim of the national parks in Germany. Three of these call Mecklenburg-Vorpommern home. The national parks of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern boast a wealth of ways to keep you active, not to mention sublime natural beauty.

National Park of Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft

Islands and peninsulas, Baltic Sea and Bodden lagoons as well as numerous sandbanks between Fischland and Hiddensee provide a very special experience in the state's largest national park: Land erosion and land deposition – a new piece of Germany appears here on a daily basis. The wind decides what belongs to the land and what to the sea. This long coastal strip with its many islands is a unique paradise for birds. Here, up to 60,000 cranes stay over in the spring and autumn alone – more than anywhere else in Europe. The wide, open landscapes have a peaceful character that is hard to find anywhere else. But the natural beauty of the large forested areas is also captivating. In the primeval Darß forest, the red deer makes a grand performance, occasionally against the backdrop of the Baltic Sea.

Jasmund National Park

The most northeastern of national parks in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Jasmund National Park is about the last piece of Germany before it drops into the Baltic Sea. Caspar David Friedrich's world-famous paintings already speak of the enchantment and admiration the chalk cliffs of Rügen hold. So it is no little wonder that the bizarre white cliffs became the emblem of the island and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Jasmund National Park every year. The star of the show is Königsstuhl, teetering 118m over the Baltic Sea. The National Park Centre KÖNIGSSTUHL is in the immediate vicinity and has a wide range of activities for its guests. After visiting the centre, visitors are welcome to walk through the area as there is much to discover in the ancient beech forests: gurgling springs and silent moors, picturesque river valleys and gigantic megalithic tombs as well as the legendary Lake Hertha, where remnants of the thousand-year-old castle ramparts can be seen. The recently opened Welterbeforum (UNESCO heritage forum) at the coast between Sassnitz and Königsstuhl informs about the protected ancient beech forests.

Müritz National Park

The Müritz National Park lies in the heart of the Mecklenburg Lakes. A particularly valuable section of the Lakes has been rigorously protected since 1990. Typical of this landscape are the vast forests, sparkling lakes and legendary moors. Purely based on area of land, the national park with 32,200 hectares is the largest in Germany. The numerous lakes in the national park are hunting grounds for ospreys, the heraldic animal of the national park. Around 20 breeding pairs are at home here. The white-tailed eagle can also be observed just as often throughout the year. The lakes are often used by migratory ducks as well as cranes in the autumn.