Rheinauen zwischen Eltville und Bingen. 26/02/76; Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz; 566 ha; 50°00'N 008°00'E. Nature Reserves. Three separate parts of the Rhine River made up of seasonally inundated riverine meadows, shallow water bodies, eroding and evolving islands supporting soft and hardwood vegetation, reedbeds, and sandbanks. The hardwood meadow vegetation is a rare habitat type, occurring in the floodplains of large rivers. The site supports a diverse invertebrate community, is internationally important for breeding, wintering and staging waterbirds, and includes a diverse flora of many rare species. The larger island has been used for agriculture since ancient times because of its fertile alluvial soils and ideal climate. Recreational activities include fishing and seasonally restricted hunting. There is a nature conservation center at the site. Ramsar site no. 88. Most recent RIS information: 1998.