A fen is a small to medium-sized body of water fed exclusively by rainwater and therefore relatively acidic.
A fen is a small to medium-sized body of water fed exclusively by rainwater and therefore relatively acidic. The water sits atop an impermeable soil layer and therefore has no contact with groundwater. The aquatic fauna in fens consist largely of water beetles and dragonflies. Amphibians, such as the moor frog and the natterjack toad, can only be found in flooded shoreline areas. The water in those parts is less acidic, making it easier for the animals to reproduce.
The fens are located in the Deelensche Veld, in the wet heath and wet grassland areas. Key species include the small white face and the common hawker. Various species of bird, such as little grebes and teal, and amphibians, such as the moor frog and natterjack toad, can also be found in the Hoge Veluwe.