LAW 9-2 (12) Sittard - Strabeek (Valkenburg)

Limburgs Plateau - South Limburg is different in every way. From Sittard you will become acquainted with all aspects of this regional culture in the hills. The Pieterpad shows you as much as possible along the most beautiful roads. The Limburgs Plateau is a high plateau;'high\\\' than in Dutch proportions. At its core, it consists of limestone over 6. million years old and Pleistocene fluvial deposits. During the last ice age, that plateau was covered with a fertile loess and loam layer due to the strong winds that blew at that time. The plateau is intersected by the Maas and its tributaries: the Geleenbeek, the Geul and several smaller streams. These waters have carved deep valleys, making it sometimes seem as if you are walking through a hilly landscape. Because there was not much to do with the steep slopes, they were planted with forest. These species-rich'hillside forests\\\' were used for hunting, for convenience wood, or as props in the mines. The Ravensbosch - between Schimmert and Strabeek - is a good example. The hillside forests along the Geul are known for their special vegetation.