Hollenloch

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Hollenloch

Hollenloch entrance.JPG
Location: Rösenbeck , North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany
Height : 496  m above sea level NN
Geographic
location: 		51 ° 24 '35.6 "  N , 8 ° 40' 14"  E Coordinates: 51 ° 24 '35.6 "  N , 8 ° 40' 14"  E
Hollenloch (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Hollenloch
Type: Stalactite cave
Overall length: 2700 m
Level difference: 92 m
Particularities: The cave entrance is locked.
Hollenloch nature reserve

The Hollenloch is a 2700 m long karst cave west of Brilon - Rösenbeck (Hochsauerlandkreis, NRW) in the Brilon mass limestone in Upper Devonian .

The entrance to the stalactite cave is in a beech-lined limestone rock. The cave, with a known passage length of over 2700 meters and a depth of 92 meters, is one of the longest and deepest caves in the Sauerland. The entrance area has been visited by humans and animals since ancient times, as demonstrated by numerous bone finds. Bones of cave bears and cave hyenas were found in the cave sediment .

The people used the cave at least since the Neolithic, as numerous finds show. Investigations revealed arrowheads , scrapers and blades made of flint , as well as remains of vessels made of clay, some of which were decorated. Brass, amber and baked clay jewelry from the Iron Age were also found in the cave .

The cave spider and seven different bat species can be found in the cave today . In a census in March 2006, scientists found 77 hibernating bats from seven different species. There are also rare species of bat Pond bat , Natterer's bat and whiskered bat proved.

The cave entrance is closed to protect this stalactite cave that has not been opened up for tourists. Because of repeated vandalism at the closure of the cave, walling up the cave was already considered by the Hochsauerlandkreis.

The name "Hollen" refers to spirits of popular belief that live underground. In the immediate vicinity of the cave there is a rock to the white woman, probably a reinterpretation of "wise woman". It is possible that these field names can be traced back to the hiking legend Frau Holle .

Designation as a protected area

In 2001, the cave and the surrounding area were designated with the Hoppecketal landscape plan by the Hochsauerlandkreis as a nature reserve (NSG) with the name Hollenloch / Ziegentempel with a size of 3.2  hectares . Before that, the cave was already designated as a natural monument . At the same time, there is a protection designation as an FFH area Rösenbecker Höhle with the same delimitation.

There is also a swallow hole and rocks in the NSG . The NSG is covered by a beech forest.

See also

literature

Web links

Commons : Hollenloch  - Collection of images, videos and audio files