nature reserve
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nature reserve
A legally protected area in which nature, including its animal and plant life as well as the landscape, is to be preserved from human interference.
Im Naturschutzgebiet ist das Zelten streng verboten.
Camping is strictly prohibited in the nature reserve.
This word is a perfect example of a German 'Wort-Baukasten' (word building kit): it consists of 'Natur' (nature), 'Schutz' (protection), and 'Gebiet' (area). So it is literally an area for protecting nature.
Dieses seltene Tier lebt nur noch in einem kleinen Naturschutzgebiet.
This rare animal now lives only in a small nature reserve.
A typical formulation is that an area 'unter Naturschutz steht' (is under nature protection). Another is that an area is 'zum Naturschutzgebiet erklärt' (declared a nature reserve).
Der gesamte Küstenstreifen steht unter Naturschutz.
The entire coastal strip is under nature protection.
When you are located in such an area, you use the preposition 'in' with the dative. You are or hike 'im Naturschutzgebiet' (in the nature reserve).
Wir haben gestern im Naturschutzgebiet viele Vögel beobachtet.
Yesterday we observed many birds in the nature reserve.
national park
Both words refer to natural areas protected by the government or by law. A Nationalpark is a large area with special natural features, where natural processes are meant to develop largely on their own; Naturschutzgebiet is the more general term for an area that is meant to be protected from human interference. The specific type of protected area determines which word to use.
Das Naturschutzgebiet schützt die seltenen Pflanzen und die Landschaft vor menschlichen Eingriffen.
The nature reserve protects the rare plants and the landscape from human interference.
Der große Nationalpark schützt die besondere Tier- und Pflanzenwelt und lässt die Natur sich weitgehend selbst entwickeln.
The large national park protects its unique wildlife and plant life while allowing nature to develop largely on its own.
