The Lange Rhön is a mountain range of the High Rhön and is centrally located in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve. It extends as a basalt plateau about 800 meters above sea level. The highest mountain is the Heidelstein with 926 meters above sea level. The largest part of the Long Rhön is designated as a nature reserve. This also includes the Gangolfsberg and the Schwarze Moor located in the north. 

Land of the open distance 

If any region of the Rhön was eponymous for the "Land of the Open Distance", it is the Long Rhön. The clearings of the Middle Ages created here the unique open landscape, which is characterized by its barrenness but at the same time great biodiversity of flowers and ground-nesting birds. Among them are the troll flower, arnica, snipe and black grouse. The Lange Rhön is also one of the most impressive hiking areas in the Rhön. Many hiking trails cross the nature reserve and offer hikers unique insights into the Rhön habitat. 

Area delimitation 

The area extends in the west to the upper Ulster valley between Hilders and the Ulster spring, the 600 meter contour line can be used as a demarcation. To the Wasserkuppenrhön the federal road 278 can be used as a boundary line. In the south and east of the area, the tree line is to be used as a boundary. Finally, the Lange Rhön is limited in the north approx. at the 600 meter contour line to the Auersberger Kuppenrhön.