The Round

The route is named after the swamp river De Runde. The Runde originates in the nature reserve Bargerveen and leaves Drenthe at Ter Apel; now called Ruiten Aa.
The high moor reserve (2028 ha) Bargerveen is the last large remnant of the
/Bourtangermoor, which is almost completely developed. Bargerveen consists of three parts: the Amsterdamsche Veld, the Schoonbeekerveld, and the Meerstalblock. The topsoil has been removed from the Amsterdamsche and Schoonbeekerveld. The Meerstalblock is only partially excavated. Many special plants can be found in Bargerveen, such as bone-break, cranberry, heather, spotted water lily, and many species of
. The area is also known for its many characteristic and rare
, such as
, porcelain hen, water rail, gray goose, and bluethroat. The area is of great importance due to the large population of
that occurs here. The
is also not uncommon there. Bargerveen also holds a special place due to the rare
, such as the heath blue and some dragonfly species.