Eiswoog

The Eiswoog is an approximately six -acre reservoir of the Eisbach, which is regionally also called the ice, in Rhineland- Palatinate. It extends in the flood plain close to the source of the creek from south to north in a section of the northern Palatinate Forest, the stump forest.

Geography

Southwest of the local church is the Ramsen Rein, dammed a left tributary of the Rhine, near its seven sources to a Woog. So in this area, natural or artificial lakes are called, were once used as a water reservoir for mills and hammer mills or as a gathering place for the drift of log or lumber.

To the north above the Eiswoogs leads the provincial road 395, which connects the east with Eisenberg Enkenbach- Alsenborn in the west, with the Barbarossa - cycle path. About the L 395 cities Kaiserslautern be achieved in the southwest and green city in northeastern each after about 15 kilometers.

Name

The name " Eiswoog " could have two origins: He probably simply meaning " reservoir of the ice "; because the water itself has its name by the iron ore deposits in the area. Some linguists maintain, however, also another name origin of possible: Before the introduction of Linde's refrigeration machine ( 1870s), the reservoir was also used to Eisgewinnung. Then it was broken in late winter ice and brought by horse and cart in the ice house and ice houses of brewers and butchers around.

History

Originally Eiswoog was probably a naturally arising lake. Presumably you started on impound this lake since the Middle Ages. Stump forest and Eiswoog belonged to the nunnery founded in 1146 Ramsen. It is known that the nuns could create Stauweiher as fishing waters in several valleys around. Also the Eiswoog served as a fish pond. After the dissolution of the monastery of the possessions came to the Bishopric of Worms and the Counts of Nassau. The Eiswoog belonged in the 18th century to the reign of Nassau -Weilburg. 1812 bought the ironworks owner Ludwig Gienanth expropriated as national " Eisenwoog " in order to expand this water - reservoir hydropower supply its operations at Rein in and secure in Eisenberg even during dry periods. The dam of the Eiswoogs was increased in the following years and strengthened, thus expanding the water surface to its present size of about 6 ha. Twice it came to severe storms at a fraction of the dam: on the night of 12th to April 13th, 1819 translated the floods Ramsen under water and on August 4, 1875 flooded the water masses Ramsen and lying on the Rein districts of Eisenberg and damaged plants and mills. 1832 on the north side of the dam a pond keeper's house and erected in 1876 on the dam a hunting lodge. The passing right by the Eiswoog stump forest road, today L 395, was built from 1839 to 1843. The Eistalviadukt was completed in 1932. During the bombardment of the railway bridge, 1944, the viaduct was only slightly damaged, but the pond keeper's house and the cabin were destroyed. The today standing on the dam crest Hotel-Restaurant " trout lake house " was built in 1950/51 by Ulrich von Gienanth. In 1900, a fish farming system was set up below the dam, which now consists of 14 fish tanks. The Eiswoog is still owned by the family of Gienanth.

Plant

Commercial use

The dam is a hotel restaurant, which also provides rowing boats. Below the dam are managed fish ponds. The Eiswoog itself is also used for fish farming. In winter, its water is discharged into the rule so that maintenance work can be carried out.

Fauna

In Eiswoog trout, perch, pike and char occur. The lake is privately owned, so the fishing is prohibited.

Grey Heron, pipe and Least Bittern and Ducks, geese and swans are frequently encountered on Eiswoog, osprey, however, only occasionally. Lakeside the kingfisher, a strictly protected species nests The rare in Germany Wheatear was registered as through puller.

Nature trail

The area around the Eiswoogs is a hiking area that offers both simple and demanding routes. Around the lake is a three-kilometer long trail. In a model project of the University of Kaiserslautern part of the path and the plants around the lake to a barrier-free nature trail were redesigned. The aim of the project was to make the viewing platform, shore access and a panoramic also for people with visual and motor disabilities to experience and to allow use with prams. The second phase of construction was completed in 2009 and dedicated to the nature trail on August 25 by the Rhineland-Palatinate Minister Margit Conrad. The entire project cost 325,000 euros, of which carried the state 295,000 euros.

Ice Valley and butt Forest Railway

The current terminus of the reactivated for the sake of tourism Eistalbahn, the breakpoint Eiswoog is approached only on weekends. North of the dam crosses the disused west later in the Ice Valley railway line on the Eistalviadukt. The bridge was completed in 1932 and was in operation until 1988. It has a height of 35 meters and is 250 meters, the longest railway bridge in the Palatinate. At its eastern end is a worthwhile viewpoint.

On a narrow-gauge track with 600 mm gauge, which runs approximately parallel to Eistalbahn, runs between Ramsen and the Eiswoog at certain times, a heritage railway, the stump Forest Railway. It represents a tourist attraction and has open carriages.