The Guestebieser Loose are several farmsteads in the Oderbruch, on the Alte Oder (Old Oder) and the main course of the Oder River. Loose are historical farmsteads located up to 500 meters away from the Oder dike and serve as rescue islands during high water. They are relics of regional cultural and settlement history and shape the landscape character of the Oderbruch.
Most parts of the area lie in front of the dike and are regularly flooded.
The area is home to a variety of breeding birds, amphibians, and reptiles, as well as mammals, which flee to higher grounds during floods.
During floods, many species such as breeding birds, amphibians lime frogs and toads, reptiles lime snakes, and mammals, e.g. hares, deer, sheep, and cows flee to the higher-lying Loose.
Many trees, especially near Odervorland Gieshof could not withstand the floods and lie as silent witnesses in the meadows.
I have visited this seemingly magical place often in recent years during different seasons.
