Geography of Luxembourg: nature, relief, climate, population. Water resources of Luxembourg
2586 km2, elevation difference - 428 m. The northern part is higher, the southern part is low (Red Lands).
The relief is mostly flat, with small hills of the Ardennes in the north and the Luxembourg Plateau in the southern part. The highest point is the Kneiff Hill (560 m), the lowest is the confluence of the Sauer and the Mosel in the Wasserbillige (132 m).
From a geological point of view Luxembourg is divided into two parts: Oesling in the north, about 555 meters above sea level, which is the spurs of the Ardennes and occupies almost a third of the country, all covered with forests and amazingly beautiful, and the Good country in the south, with alternating forests and agricultural land, located at 426 meters above sea level.
One of the eastern borders is wine production Moselle valley, and in the southeast of the country there is a narrow strip of red earth that is nothing more than the mining district of Luxembourg.
Several rivers cross the country, the largest of them is the Moselle, which is all cut by canals and has access to the largest European waterways. The river network is dense and branched. The rivers of Luxembourg belong to the Rhine basin. In the southern part Luxembourg There are deposits of iron ore.
Relief of Luxembourg
The terrain is mostly smooth highlands with wide, deep valleys; the highlands turn into small mountains in the north, and in the southeast they sharply descend into the valley of the Moselle River.
Overgrown with forests Ardennes mountains stretch across the northern regions of the country, and the Sauer and Moselle rivers form its eastern border.
The south of Luxembourg is occupied mainly by a hilly plain, in the north - the spurs of the Ardennes. The rivers belong to the Moselle basin. Several reserves, part of a natural national park located in Germany.
Southern half of Luxembourg – Gutland– is a continuation of the Lorraine plateau and is characterized by undulating cuesta relief. A system of ridges and ledges is expressed here, gradually descending to the east.
Cultural landscapes predominate. In the north of the country, in Essling, occupied by the foothills of the Ardennes, a highly dissected terrain with heights of up to 400–500 m is developed.
The highest point is Mount Burgplatz (559 m). The largest river in Luxembourg, the Sur (Sauer), originates in Belgium and flows to the east, then, after confluence with the Ur, to the southeast and south and flows into the Moselle.
The Alzette, a southern tributary of the Sur, flows through the capital city of Luxembourg and the industrial cities of Esch-sur-Alzette, Mersch and Ettelbrück.
Climate of Luxembourg
As for the weather, then Luxembourg does not shine with special variety. Luxembourg is dominated by a temperate climate, transitional from maritime to continental - characterized by wet winters and cool summers.
The hottest month is July, at this time during the daytime the air warms up to 22..24 degrees Celsius, and at night it is about +12..+14 degrees. Winter here is mild, the coldest month is January. In January, during the day the air temperature ranges from 1 to 3 degrees Celsius, at night - from -3 to -1 degrees.
The average temperature in January is 0 °C, in July - about + 17 °C. Snow often falls in the Ardennes in winter. The sunniest months are from May to August, but it is also sunny in the first half of September.
During the year, 760 mm of precipitation falls in the south of the country, and the greatest amount of precipitation falls in the north of the country - up to 900 mm; snowfalls are frequent here in winter. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, with small maximums observed in May, June and November and December.
Luxembourg is a small landlocked state in Western Europe. By land, the country borders on France (73 km) in the south, Belgium (148 km) in the west and northwest, and Germany (138 km) in the east.
The territory of Luxembourg is 2586 km2, the elevation difference is 428 m. The northern part is higher, the southern part is low-lying (Red Lands). The relief is mostly flat, with small hills of the Ardennes in the north and the Luxembourg Plateau in the southern part. The highest point is the Kneiff Hill (560 m), the lowest is the confluence of the Sauer and the Mosel in the Wasserbillige (132 m).
From a geological point of view, Luxembourg is divided into two parts: Oesling in the north, about 555 meters above sea level, which is the spur of the Ardennes and occupies almost a third of the country, all covered with forests and amazingly beautiful, and the Good country in the south , with alternating forests and agricultural lands, located at 426 meters above sea level. One of the eastern borders is the wine-growing Moselle Valley, and in the southeast of the country there is a narrow strip of red earth that is none other than the Luxembourg mining district. Several rivers cross the country, the largest of them is the Moselle, which is all cut by canals and has access to the largest European waterways. The river network is dense and branched. The rivers of Luxembourg belong to the Rhine basin. There are iron ore deposits in the southern part of Luxembourg.
Relief of Luxembourg
The terrain is mostly smooth highlands with wide, deep valleys; the highlands turn into small mountains in the north, and in the southeast they sharply descend into the valley of the Moselle River.
The forested Ardennes Mountains stretch across the northern regions of the country, and the Sauer and Moselle rivers form its eastern border. The south of Luxembourg is occupied mainly by a hilly plain, in the north - the spurs of the Ardennes. The rivers belong to the Moselle basin. Several reserves, part of a natural national park located in Germany.
The southern half of Luxembourg - Gutland - is a continuation of the Lorraine plateau and is characterized by undulating cuesta terrain. A system of ridges and ledges is expressed here, gradually descending to the east. Cultural landscapes predominate. In the north of the country, in Essling, occupied by the foothills of the Ardennes, a highly dissected terrain with heights of up to 400–500 m is developed. The highest point is Mount Burgplatz (559 m). The largest river in Luxembourg, the Sur (Sauer), originates in Belgium and flows to the east, then, after confluence with the Ur, to the southeast and south and flows into the Moselle. The Alzette, a southern tributary of the Sur, flows through the capital city of Luxembourg and the industrial cities of Esch-sur-Alzette, Mersch and Ettelbrück.
Climate of Luxembourg
As for the weather, Luxembourg does not shine with special diversity. Luxembourg is dominated by a temperate climate, transitional from maritime to continental - characterized by wet winters and cool summers. The hottest month is July, at this time during the daytime the air warms up to 22..24 degrees Celsius, and at night it is about +12..+14 degrees. Winter here is mild, the coldest month is January. In January, during the day the air temperature ranges from 1 to 3 degrees Celsius, at night - from -3 to -1 degrees.
The average temperature in January is 0 °C, in July - about + 17 °C. Snow often falls in the Ardennes in winter. The sunniest months are from May to August, but it is also sunny in the first half of September. During the year, 760 mm of precipitation falls in the south of the country, and the greatest amount of precipitation falls in the north of the country - up to 900 mm; snowfalls are frequent here in winter. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, with small maximums observed in May, June and November and December.
Water resources of Luxembourg
If you look at a detailed physical map of Luxembourg, you will notice that it is covered with a thick blue grid - these are the rivers and streams of the country. The river network of the southern part of the duchy is characterized by relative abundance of water, usually a calm flow and relatively small fluctuations in level, while almost all the rivers of Esling are typically mountainous.
Statistical indicators of Luxembourg
(as of 2012)
Almost all the rivers of the Grand Duchy (with the exception of the small river Korn, which flows in the extreme southwest) belong to the Moselle basin, a left tributary of the Rhine. The Moselle is the main river of Luxembourg. It also occurs in France and Germany. The Moselle originates on the southwestern slopes of the Vosges and flows primarily in a deep, narrow valley. Floods occur from November to March, when maximum precipitation occurs. Low water - in summer, when it is warm and dry and the river's water content is maintained mainly by groundwater.
In addition to the border rivers Moselle and Ur, the most significant rivers of the duchy are the Sauer (Sur), flowing along the border of Essling, and the tributaries of the Sauer, flowing to it through the Ardennes gorges (Wilz, Clerf and Blais) and from the hilly plateaus of Gutland (Alzette). The latter is the main river of Gutland, on the banks of which there are large industrial cities of the duchy: Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Mersch and Ettel-brück. Almost all of the Alzette's tributaries are left-handed, which is explained by the asymmetry of its valley, associated with the cuesta nature of the relief.
An important source of nutrition for the rivers of Luxembourg is groundwater, which is mostly located at a depth of less than 5 m. The rivers in the elevated part of Luxembourg are fed mainly by rain. There are springs, and in karst areas there are small underground reservoirs, which also serve as a source of power for rivers.
Soils and flora of Luxembourg
Contrasts in relief and climate also affected the diversity of soil and vegetation cover in Luxembourg, which was formed mainly on sedimentary sandy-clayey deposits, shales and limestones.
On the mountain slopes of the Ardennes, brown forest soils developed under the forests. They have little thickness and low fertility, so the slopes are used mostly for pastures. In the south and southwest of Luxembourg, with the exception of the Moselle Valley, humus-carbonate fertile soils are widespread, used everywhere for gardens, vineyards, vegetable gardens, and fields. The Mosel and Sauer valleys are dominated by brown soils and rendzins, or soddy-carbonate soils, formed on carbonate rocks under coniferous, deciduous-coniferous and broad-leaved forests. Peaty soils are common in depressions.
At the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th century, when Luxembourg was part of France, it was called the forestry department (Foret). And to this day, in comparison with other countries of Western Europe, Luxembourg amazes with its large (relative to the size of its territory) area of forests and the naturalness of its nature. More than 1/3 of the territory of the duchy is occupied by oak and beech forests.
Almost all forests are concentrated in Essling and the northern part of Gutland. Here, in addition to oak, beech, and hornbeam, ash and alder grow here, and birch grows on the flat peat bogs. Among the shrubs, the most common are hazel, euonymus, viburnum, rose hips, and honeysuckle.
In the upper parts of the northern and western slopes of the Ardennes in Essling one can also see coniferous trees: larches and spruces. Pine trees were introduced to Luxembourg approximately 150 years ago and now define the landscape in the far north of Essling.
On peaty and barren sandy soils, heathers are often found - evergreen shrubs with hard, narrow leaves. Heathland is typical of areas with a cool, wet climate. Among the heather there are clusters of lingonberry bushes, crowberries, blueberries, blueberries, and many mosses and lichens.
Mountain grasses are characterized by various types of nutritious grass - ryegrass (literally translated from English: “rye grass”), the main plant of pastures. Ryegrass grows back well after being grazed and mowed and is eaten by all types of livestock.
In the south and southwest of Luxembourg, with its fertile humus-carbonate soils, large areas are used for agricultural land. There are also many parks here, which to some extent replenish the deforested areas.
In the duchy there are many southern plants from the Mediterranean flora, reaching here the northern border of their ranges: walnut, apricot, and among shrubs - holly, boxwood, dogwood, barberry. Many of these species have been cultivated in southern Luxembourg and form an important part of plantings in parks, gardens and gardens.
Wildlife of Luxembourg
Under the influence of human economic activity, the living conditions of most animals have changed, some of which have completely disappeared. Large animals mostly became victims of unplanned and haphazard hunting, and some of them were deliberately destroyed by humans as pests or predators. Wolves and wild cats and bears have long disappeared. The few remaining specimens of roe deer and chamois are protected by law. In the forest thickets you can occasionally meet animals such as marten or weasel, which wandered here from the French Vosges.
On arable land you can often see hares, many more squirrels, and among birds - wood pigeons, jays and buzzards, as well as pheasants. A sparrowhawk became a rare visitor. The hazel grouse lives in forests and dense thickets. Wood grouse remain in the north of Essling. Here, seasonal hunting for quail and woodcock is permitted under licenses. In the pine forests at any time of the year you can hear the gentle chirping of the kinglet. Sometimes flocks of crossbills are visible in the sky. Along the banks of the fish-rich, non-freezing rivers of Essling, you can find the blue kingfisher, which has become rare in other places, staying here for the winter. In summer you can hear the singing of a robin, a tiny wren, the flute-like voice of an oriole, the cuckoo's cuckoo and the cry of a startled blackbird.
Occasionally there is a large black woodpecker with a sparkling fiery red crest. Sometimes kites and falcons soar high in the sky, looking out for mice in the furrows of the arable land. You can hear the singing of a lark and the monotonous melody of a bunting. Shrikes fly low over the bushes in search of prey. Starlings and magpies appear where cattle graze.
The green woodpecker lives in the orchards, and in the spring the bushes are home to a multi-voiced call of willow warblers and chiffchaffs, warblers, finches and tits. In warm valleys you can also hear a nightingale. In autumn, tits, goldfinches and linnets gather in large flocks. Sparrows and swallows constantly scurry around human habitation.
Coots live near water. The streams and rivers of Essling are home to trout, shellfish, as well as snails, water bugs, and ciliated worms (turbellaria).
Population, language and culture of Luxembourg
The population of Luxembourg is 550 thousand inhabitants. Over the past 30 years, population growth has amounted to almost 100 thousand. This growth was mainly due to immigration. Currently, about 46% of the population has foreign citizenship. Of the 435,000 inhabitants, it is estimated that 290 thousand inhabitants are citizens of Luxembourg, and the rest are foreigners, including the French - 69.2 thousand people, Germans - 33.9 thousand people, Belgians - 33.7 thousand people and etc.
The official languages are German and French, but in 1982 the Luxembourgish language, a mixture of Moselle-Frankish dialect, was given national status. It is the language of everyday communication of local residents. English is also widely used. French is the language most often used for formal ceremonies.
The modern history of Luxembourg begins with the Congress of Vienna, which proclaimed an independent Grand Duchy, and in 1867 the Treaty of London secured the permanent neutrality of Luxembourg. Until 1890, the Grand Duchy was part of the Netherlands, but since 1890 it has been ruled by its own dynasty. In 1948, Luxembourg renounced its neutrality in order to enter the new associations of post-war Europe. France and Germany had the most noticeable influence on local culture, however, the country has a developed sense of its own independence, which was most clearly manifested in the official approval of its own national language. The population of Luxembourg City is small (86 thousand people), which is more than 1/6 of the country's population. The city's population can be divided into two ethnic groups - Germans and French, each of which has the right to speak their native language.
Source - http://evrotrip.ru/
It is not surprising that in a country of such modest size, the climate is almost the same everywhere. Much more unusual is that the climate changes little even with the changing seasons.
For most of the year, Luxembourg experiences moderate weather with warm summers and cool winters. It is relatively cold only from November to February, but even during this period the temperature almost never drops below zero.
The most sunny days occur from May to August, at which time the average temperature is approximately 20 °C during the day and approximately 10 °C at night.
April and September are also quite sunny. In the Ardennes, snow often remains throughout the winter, during which time the sun appears for only a few hours during the day. Precipitation falls almost evenly throughout the year. This means that one good rain falls on average once every three days.
Spring is the best time of year to come to the country
Nature is blooming, and numerous holidays and national folklore festivals are in full swing.
From spring to autumn the weather is favorable for being outdoors, just don’t pay attention to the rain. Winters in Luxembourg are much milder than in neighboring countries.
Luxembourg is a truly amazing country, the cradle of European Gothic castles and other masterpieces of ancient architecture, as well as memorable picturesque natural landscapes of deciduous and coniferous forests.
Luxembourg on the world map
The picturesque state called Luxembourg is located in the heart of Western Europe and is one of the most famous tourist centers in the region.
Luxembourg covers only 2,600 square kilometers, making it one of the smallest countries in the world. The capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is the city of the same name - “Luxembourg”. At the moment, about 550 thousand people live in the country. The local population is fluent in French and German, but Luxembourgish is also in demand. 
The country has no access to the oceans and seas. The southern state border, 73 kilometers long, separates the European pearl from, from the north-west Luxembourg neighbors Belgium, sharing about 150 kilometers of a common border with this country, and from the east it borders on, the length of the cordon is almost 140 kilometers.
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Tourists from all over the planet come here almost all year round; this duchy has its own indescribable and unique charm. In almost every town in Luxembourg you can find an ancient medieval castle, which has survived to this day thanks to the incredible efforts of the local population. Luxembourgers value and honor their traditions, so national festivals and events are celebrated on a grand scale. That is why many people come here to experience the unforgettable festive atmosphere and get to know the culture better.
The northern regions of Luxembourg are characterized by hilly terrain, which gradually turns into marshy lowlands in the south. The country's topography is predominantly flat. The small northern hills were called the Ardennes. In the south of the country the relief is represented by the Luxembourg Plateau. It is here that the highest altitude of the duchy is located - a hill called Kneiff with a height of about 560 meters. Not far from it you can also see the lowest point of Luxembourg - the place where the three rivers Wasserbillige, Sauer and Moselle become one. This point rises 132 meters above sea level.
More than thirty percent of Luxembourg's public domain is covered in dense forest cover, which is a national treasure and is protected by the state. These lands look really beautiful. Vibrant dark green forests are intertwined with farmland. In the east of the country stretches the luxurious Moselle River valley, the territory of which is used by the hardworking residents of Luxembourg to grow grapes. To the southeast of the rich vineyards stretch the industrial areas of the duchy, where they mine ore.
As for the water resources of Luxembourg, they are represented by several deep rivers that flow through the territory of this country. The Moselle is rightfully considered the most important river in these lands. It has a fairly dense network of canals and tributaries, and is also directly connected to many European waterways. However, in terms of its size and scope, the Sauer is considered the largest river in Luxembourg. A river that originated in and carries its waters to the Moselle through the territory of Luxembourg.
Flag of Luxembourg
The national flag of Luxembourg features three horizontal stripes of red, white and blue in the corresponding order from top to bottom. One can hardly fail to notice the similarities between the state symbol of Luxembourg and Holland. The thing is that the military history of these countries dates back to the eighteenth century.
In 1815, Holland and Luxembourg were under the rule of King Willem I. It was he who first used the national flag of this color. Modern Luxembourg, as an independent state, officially adopted such a flag only in August 1972. To make the similarity between it and the Dutch flag less obvious, it was decided to lighten the blue stripe. A new version of the national symbol was adopted in 1992.
Climate features of Luxembourg
Since Luxembourg occupies a small area, weather conditions in different parts of the duchy differ little from each other. The state is ruled by a temperate climate with relatively warm and humid winters and cool summers. The temperature maximum is observed in July, when the air temperature during the day exceeds 24 degrees Celsius, and at night drops to 12 degrees plus. The most sunny days in Luxembourg occur in August and September.
You should not expect severe frosts from winter in Luxembourg, because even on the coldest January day, the temperature column here does not fall below one degree Celsius. Only at night can there be sub-zero temperatures - up to three degrees below zero. The higher elevations of the Ardennes usually experience snowfall during winter.
As for precipitation, Luxembourg receives no more than 900 millimeters of precipitation per year. Most of them relate to the winter period, when fluffy snow brings a fairy tale to the duchy. It is impossible to pinpoint the best time to travel to Luxembourg, as there is something to suit your taste all year round. In summer, cozy, well-groomed city streets, flowering parks and flower beds simply cannot fail to impress tourists with their grace and ingenuity. But the winter landscapes of Luxembourg, as well as the traditional New Year and Christmas celebrations, turn this country into a waking fairy tale with ancient castles, dense forests and unrivaled traditional cuisine.
Recreation and entertainment in Luxembourg
Wine connoisseurs should definitely visit Luxembourg and taste locally produced alcoholic drinks. Wine here is made not only from grapes, but also from black currants. It is better to taste the masterpieces of traditional wineries from the Moselle River Valley with chocolates prepared by masters from Luxembourg. Not only alcoholic drinks, but also the traditional cuisine of the duchy deserve special attention.
Luxembourg's excellent museums can introduce travelers to the rich culture and history of this miniature European state. The National Museum of History and Art is impressive in its scale. Attention should also be paid to local churches and cathedrals, for example, Notre Dame Cathedral, which was built in the seventeenth century. However, most of all tourists love local castles. These majestic, centuries-old architectural structures take us back to those distant times when horse-drawn carriages roamed the European streets of Luxembourg, and ladies in lush dresses went to lavish balls and ceremonial meetings in castles.
As for holidays and significant events that deserve the attention of tourists, it is worth remembering the spring fire festival, when all the people of Luxembourg light bonfires and welcome the sun. Also in August, the whole country celebrates the so-called Schueberfuhrer festival, which is also called the March of the Sheep. Townspeople dress in national costumes and stroll along local streets with painted lambs to the enchanting sounds of music. A trip to Luxembourg will certainly become a bright and memorable event in your life!
The territorial location of Luxembourg determines the climate, transitional from maritime to continental and temperate.
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The territorial location of Luxembourg determines the climate, transitional from maritime to continental and temperate. In mid-summer, temperatures usually range from +22 C° to +24 C°.
The weather in winter is characterized by its mildness. Average winter temperatures range from +1 C° to +3 C° (daytime) and from -1 C° to – 3 C° at night.
Precipitation levels vary from 760 mm in the south to 900 mm in the north.
Weather in Luxembourg cities now
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