Why are some areas of the North German Plain thinly populated?

The North German Plain is characterized by varying population densities primarily due to differences in soil quality and agricultural productivity. While regions covered by fertile loess support dense populations and numerous towns, areas with poor soils are thinly populated.1

These less fertile areas often consist of outwash sands deposited by meltwater outside of moraine regions, which are frequently forested rather than cultivated. Additionally, the western portion of the plain features landscapes that were historically heath; while some of these areas have undergone agricultural improvements or afforestation, others remain sparsely settled. Consequently, major urban centers like Hamburg, Bremen, and Berlin often stand as isolated population hubs within the otherwise thinly populated North German Plain.23