Unicorn Cave
Natural input of the Unicorn Cave
The Unicorn Cave is the largest show cave in the western part of the resin at Scharzfeld in the unincorporated area of the Harz Lower Saxony Landkreis Osterode am Harz. The karst cave in Zechstein dolomite is designated as a natural monument and was incorporated in 2006 as a part of the Zechstein landscape on the southern Harz in the list of 77 excellent national geological sites.
Geographical location
The Unicorn Cave is located in the Upper Harz Harz nature park. It is located near the Herzberger district Scharzfeld. The covered entrance to the show cave, which also has a little further south-west to Nature input Scharzfelder St. Thomas Church is located approximately 1.8 kilometers (direct distance ) north-east on the eastern flank of the wooded fire heads (about 391 m above sea level. NN ) on about 370 m above sea level. NN. Near the show cave entrance is one of the three information centers of the National Geopark Harz - Braunschweiger Land - Ostfalen. Something northwest above it a forest road crossing is on 381.2 m above sea level. NN.
History
1541 the cave was first mentioned in a document. The cave soon came to great prominence as bones and teeth were found there, which were associated with the unicorn, a legendary mythical creature.
1686 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz visited the cave and wrote a report in which he also reported on trade with Unicorn artifacts. Otto von Guericke, the mayor of Magdeburg, reported in 1672 in his New Magdeburg experiments of a fossil find in Zeunickenberg at Quedlinburg, which he interpreted as the skeleton of a unicorn: " It happened in this 1663 to (...) that they found the skeleton of a unicorn. " Later, Leibniz dealt with the Fund and created a fantasy reconstruction of the alleged unicorn in his writing Protagaea. The presentation is now used as an advertising symbol of the show cave.
1872 Rudolf Virchow led by a systematic study of the cave and realized that it is fossil remains of large mammals in the bone finds. Up to now by the numerous bone finds over 70 animal species are determined scientifically, including 60 species of mammals like the cave bear, cave lion and wolf.
Tourism
1905, the Unicorn Cave was made more accessible by building a tunnel entrance for visitors. Meanwhile, 270 meters total length of 610 meters are developed as a show cave. The cave is managed by an association and can be accessed with a guide.
The Unicorn Cave is included as No. 101 in the system of stamp locations of the Harz hiking pin. It lies at the Karst Trail and the Harz cottage gate.
Saga
According to legend, the discovery of the cave is linked to the nearby stone church Scharzfeld. In the cavernous stone church have lived in pagan times an old and wise woman seeking advice have helped. One day they have driven a monk in black cowl accompanied by Frankish warriors. A unicorn she should have protected from their persecutors. The woman joined the witches community on the witches ' dancing place of the Brocken. Then the black monk had disappeared in a hole, which led to the discovery of the Unicorn Cave. Actually, there was no discovery of the cave, as it was known since the Stone Age and is never forgotten.