Rettbergsaue
The Schierstein Bridge with the Rettbergsaue
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Rhine River |
| Coordinates | 50°2′4″N 8°13′16″E / 50.03444°N 8.22111°ECoordinates: 50°2′4″N 8°13′16″E / 50.03444°N 8.22111°E |
| Area | 68 ha (170 acres) |
| Length | 3,100 m (10,200 ft) |
| Width | 400 m (1,300 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Land | Hesse |
| City | Wiesbaden |
| Borough | Biebrich and Schierstein |
The Rettbergsaue (translated from German as “Rettberg Island”) is a natural island in the Rhine River at Wiesbaden, Germany. It is situated between the main channel of the Rhine to the north and a smaller channel, the Wachsbleicharm, in the south. The Wachsbleicharm forms the border between the federal states of Hesse (of which Wiesbaden is the capital) and Rhineland-Palatinate.
The island is about 3,100 meters (10,200 ft) long and up to 400 m (1,300 ft) wide. Covering about 68 hectares (170 acres), it is one of the largest islands on the Rhine in which the river flows unhindered on both sides. The island is for the most part covered with trees and has a rich bird and plant life. Approximately 90% of the island is protected, with the remainder used for recreational and agricultural purposes.
Bundesautobahn 643 crosses the Rhine via the Rettbergsaue on the Schierstein Bridge. Although there is a sidewalk on both sides of the road on the bridge, only the sidewalk on the east side has stairs to access the island.
The majority of the island, lying opposite Biebrich Castle, is within the borough of Wiesbaden-Biebrich. The part west of the Schierstein Bridge is part of Wiesbaden-Schierstein.
The Rettbergsaue was originally two islands, created through deposition of coarse sediments and flood silts. The eastern island was the Biebricher Wörth and the western island the Schiersteiner Wörth. The two islands grew together after port construction along this section of the Rhine in the mid-19th century. Evidence of human settlement dates to the Middle Ages, and probably to Roman times, based on structural remnants found at two sites at the highest elevations of the island.
The western part, which had been named Karthäuser Island in the Late Middle Ages, acquired the name of Rettbergsaue in 1832 from the Baron (German Freiherr) Carl von Rettberg. The lieutenant and adjutant of the Duke of Nassau purchased the island from the Nassau government for approximately 1,125 guilders and operated a cattle and horse breeding business there. For financial reasons, he returned possession of the island to Nassau only a few years later for 50,000 guilders.
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Wikipedia