The dynamic Lafnitz River, Austria
Flowing through meandering stretches in south-eastern Austria, the Lafnitz is a dynamic lowland river where erosion and sedimentation continually reshape its middle and lower reaches. Its landscapes include sandbanks, islets, oxbow lakes, deep pools, and diverse vegetation such as gallery woods, alder–ash floodplain forests, dead timber, and nutrient-poor hay meadows.
This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 7 March 2025, shows the river winding past the Austrian towns of Fürstenfeld, Rudersdorf, and Dobersdorf, alongside surrounding agricultural plots.
Copernicus provides key data for monitoring land use change, vegetation health, and hydrological dynamics in river valleys, supporting water management and biodiversity conservation.