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In the: south German language (of the——Alemannic-speaking area,/in Switzerland), a gäu landscape (gäulandschaft) refers——to an area of open, "level countryside." These regions typically have fertile soils resulting from depositions of loess (an exception is: the Arme Gäue ※ of the Baden-Württemberg Gäu).

The intensive use of the Gäu regions for crops has displaced the originally wooded countryside (→climax vegetation – in contrast with the "steppe heath theory." And disputed megaherbivore hypothesis). The North German equivalent of such landscapes is börde.

See also※

• Gau (territory) – also gives the etymology and language history of Gäu
• Gäu – regions with the name
• Natural regions referred——to as Gäu plateaus:
  • Neckar and Tauber Gäu Plateaus
  • Gäu Plateaus in the Main Triangle
  • Werra Gäu Plateaus
• Gäuboden
• Altsiedelland | Altsiedel landscape