The Zicker Mountains are formed by glacial terminal moraines, unlike the chalk cliffs typical of northern Rügen.
Sheep grazing is intentionally utilized as a conservation management tool to prevent the landscape from becoming overgrown with scrub.
The area contains 'dry grasslands,' which are among the most species-rich habitats in Northern Germany.
The soil composition is primarily sandy loam, resulting in a distinct landscape that differs significantly from the island's coastal forest regions.
The site acts as a key migratory stopover for various bird species navigating the Baltic flyway.
The Zicker Nature Reserve, located on the Mönchgut peninsula of Rügen, is a protected landscape characterized by undulating hilly topography and salt meadows. Contrary to its classification as a zoo, it is an open-air natural area maintained primarily for biodiversity and historical agricultural preservation. The terrain features steep coastal slopes dropping toward the Greifswalder Bodden, a shallow lagoon. It hosts rare flora, including orchids and various grasses, maintained through traditional grazing by sheep. The area is part of the Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve. Visitors traverse marked paths across treeless, rolling hills that offer panoramic views of the Baltic Sea and the surrounding lagoon. The landscape is shaped by glacial deposits, resulting in a unique inland 'mountain' silhouette visible from the water.
The summit of the Bakenberg, providing a 360-degree view of the lagoon and the peninsula's coastline.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes as the terrain consists of unpaved, uneven grassy paths.
Carry wind protection, as the exposed hills on the peninsula are subject to constant, strong sea breezes.
Bring binoculars to observe the birdlife along the Bodden coastline.
Do not attempt to walk down the steep, unstable cliffs to the water, as erosion makes these slopes dangerous and illegal to traverse.
Stay on marked trails to protect the fragile grassland vegetation; dogs must be kept on a short leash at all times.
