Mahlberg (mountain)

The Mahlberg is a mountain in the northwest of the Northern Black Forest and, at, is the highest point in the Baden-Württemberg county of Karlsruhe and the parish of Völkersbach. Its eastern side belongs to the municipality of Malsch in Karlsruhe and the western side to the borougy of Gaggenau in the county of Rastatt.GeographyLocationThe Mahlberg lies within the Central/North Black Forest Nature Park. It rises between the Gaggenau villages of Freiolsheim in the northwest, Moosbronn in the east and Michelbach in the southwest. Its western side belongs to the Gaggenau parish of Rotenfels; on the eastern side lies an exclave of the Malsch parish of Völkersbach.Rivers and streamsThe Moosalb flows past the Mahlberg to the east and the Michelbach runs past it to the south, the little tributaries of which - Obersbach, Walkenbach, Litzelbach and Eckbach - rise south and southwest of the mountain. In the west the waters of the Hildebrand spring flow into the Waldprechtsbach.ReservesOn the eastern slopes of the Mahlberg lie parts of the nature reserve of Alb Valley and Side Valleys (Albtal und Seitentäler, CDDA No. 162059; established in 1994; 6.36 km² in area) and the Special Area of Conservation of the same name (No. 7116-341; 27.2533 km²). The eastern side also includes parts of the protected landscape (LSG) of the Alb Valley Plateaux and Herrenalb Mountains (Albtalplatten und Herrenalber Berge, CDDA No. 319471; 1994; 47.1223 km²), and up to the western flank extends another LSG, the Eichelberg and Mahlberg (Um den Eichelberg und Mahlberg, CDDA No. 319471; 1994; 47.1223 km²).