Segeberger Kalkberg

The limestone is a rock in the center of Bad Segeberg, the contradictory, the name of limestone (calcium carbonate), but close to the surface of gypsum ( calcium sulphate -rich water ) and in the core of unweathered anhydrite ( pure calcium sulphate) is.

Geology

The cast emerged from sulfate sediments that were deposited here by the Zechstein Sea about 250 million years. Under the mountain, a rock salt dome that still raises the rock by one to two millimeters per year is ( salt tectonics ). As the red rock on Heligoland or the Munster villages Geest island is Kalkberg one of the few increases in Schleswig- Holstein, which was not caused by the ice ages. The degradation of the rock salt stocks failed in the 1860s; the holes from guzzled. From them, however, the saltwater pool Segeberg referred decades its brine. Natural changes, particularly in the visible mountain walls led from 2006 to greater security measures ( among others anchorages and safety nets ) to get the current form and at the same time also the worth protecting bat habitat can. It continues the rock must be constantly monitored and secured.

History

Originally, the limestone was about 110 meters high. After centuries of mining of gypsum it rises only 91 meters up. In the Middle Ages on the limestone mountain - then still called Alberg - the victories castle founded by Emperor Lothar 1134. It was destroyed in the Thirty Years' War by the Swedes. Today, only a well shaft of it is still preserved.

Were not discovered until 1913, the limestone caves that are located in the lower part of the rock. They are the home of bats and the occurring only here Segeberger cave beetle ( Choleva septentrionis holsatica ).

Before the First World War, the limestone mountain property of the Prussian state, year after year with the gypsum mining was not inconsiderable profits pocketed. After the discovery of the cave, the Prussian Ministry of Trade and Industry agreed to adjust the quarry operation, and suitable mountain and cave provided continued protection of Bad Segeberg for safekeeping. Finally, the mountain was finally purchased in 1922 by the city for sale. The commitment to the preservation of the mountain one, however, came after quite late: In 1931 ended the gypsum mining, by which the mountain had lost about two-thirds of its original mass over time.

In the left by the gypsum mining pit of the Reich Labor Service 1934-1937 built the limestone Stadium, a former Thingplace with approximately 7,800 seats and 12,000 standing places. At today's open-air theater, the Karl May Festival in Bad Segeberg are held every year since 1952.

It was only on April 11, 1942, the remnant of the limestone has been designated as a natural monument with a part of the cave by regulation. The natural monument comprised merely the upcoming open rock area and the immediately lower portion of the cavity. Large parts of the already then known cave system thus remained legally unprotected.

The Protection Ordinance was replaced on 18 September 1995 a greatly expanded new regulation, which provided over the limestone addition, the cave in its full extent and located at the foot of the limestone Segeberger little lake under protection. Limestone, cave and Small Segeberger lake were first recorded here as a geological unit.

Tourist

The achievable via paved paths summit platform is a popular vantage point. The view extends all around well into the Schleswig -Holstein hills, with good view to the spiers of Lübeck. A staircase leads from the Gipfelweg from the edge of the still about 43 meters deep well shaft of the former victories castle. Check out the limestone cave of Bad Segeberg are possible in the period from April to September. They are organized by Noctalis.

A limestone mountain is also available in the Lower Saxon town of Lüneburg, Lüneburg's limestone. There, the degradation of the underlying rock salt dome has succeeded already in the Middle Ages.