April 10, 2016 -Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands
North-Holland Dunes reserve
During a walk in the dunes, we encountered a herd of semi-wild Konik horses. De horses were resting in a dune valley, and drinking the water of one of the many little lakes in the dunes.
A dune lake arrises when there is a surplus of rainwater, that can not sink in the ground because of an impermeable ground layer. Or when the dune valley is lower than the groundwater level. Dune lakes contain fresh water.
Large herbivores like Koniks are brought back into the Dutch and European nature reserves and live in the wild, to help maintain the natural eco-systems.
Large Route hiking paths are long distance hiking paths (LAW's) throughout Europe, marked with red-and-white (often painted) markings. The Holland Coast LAW 3-2/3 path also passes through the dunes at Egmond aan Zee.