Der Schlangenberg – Riffe und Erze
Stolberg
At Schlangenberg, nature and industrial history come together directly.
About 380 million years ago, coral reefs and limestone deposits formed here, later being intersected by zinc and lead ore at fracture points. These rich natural resources made Schlangenberg a center of ore mining until the 19th century. Even today, tunnels, pits, and heaps serve as reminders of that time.
As mining came to an end, nature began to reclaim the area. On the metal-rich soils, plants that can cope with heavy metals, known as Galmei flora, have since been thriving.
Its most famous representative is the bright yellow Galmei violet, which blooms between April and May. It symbolizes the remarkable adaptability of life – and the transformation from a sea to a barren mining area and finally to a natural habitat.
mehr lesen About 380 million years ago, coral reefs and limestone deposits formed here, later being intersected by zinc and lead ore at fracture points. These rich natural resources made Schlangenberg a center of ore mining until the 19th century. Even today, tunnels, pits, and heaps serve as reminders of that time.
As mining came to an end, nature began to reclaim the area. On the metal-rich soils, plants that can cope with heavy metals, known as Galmei flora, have since been thriving.
Its most famous representative is the bright yellow Galmei violet, which blooms between April and May. It symbolizes the remarkable adaptability of life – and the transformation from a sea to a barren mining area and finally to a natural habitat.
