List of geotopes in the district of Nürnberger Land

This list contains the geotopes of the Middle Franconian district of Nürnberger Land in Bavaria . The list contains the official names and numbers of the Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU) as well as their geographical location. This list is incomplete. Around 3,400 geotopes (as of March 2020) are recorded in the Bavarian geotope register. The LfU does not consider some geotopes suitable for publication on the Internet. For example, some objects are not safely accessible or may only be entered to a limited extent for other reasons.

Surname	image	Geotope ID	Municipality / location	Geological unit of space	description	Area m² extension m	geology	Digestion type	value	Protection status	comment
Maximiliansgrotte E from Krottensee (show cave)	more pictures	371H001	Neuhaus an der Pegnitz position	Northern Franconian Alb	In the Franconian dolomite there is a widely branched floor system of corridors, chambers and halls. There are various sinter formations. Guided tours have been held here for the public since 1852.	10400 130 × 80	Type: Karst shaft & horizontal cave Type: Dolomite stone	cave	significant	Natural monument, FFH area, nature park
Road cut below the town hall in Burgthann	more pictures	574A002	Burgthann position	Southwest Albrand region	Sandstones with a thickness of 4 m are exposed. The lower half is assigned to the Rhaetian transition layers, the hanging wall consists of ariet sandstone (Lias alpha 3).	375 75 × 5	Type: Layer sequence Type: Sandstone	embankment	significant	no protected area
Former clay pit E from Reichenschwand	more pictures	574A003	Reichenschwand position	Northern Albrand region	The clay pit opens up 8 m of Amaltheenton. Clay iron lumps up to a size of a few decimeters are particularly abundant.	14400 120 × 120	Type: Rock, Animal Fossils Type: Mudstone	Clay pit / clay pit / marl pit	precious	Natural park
Former quarry N von Vorra		574A006	Forward position	Northern Franconian Alb	In the old quarry you can see the transition from factory limestone to sponge stump as well as clay-filled karst crevices.	30000 250 × 120	Type: Rock type, karst chimney, karst crevice Type: Limestone	Quarry	significant	Landscape protection area, nature park
Former quarry NE of Schupf		574A007	Happurg position	Middle Franconian Alb	It is the only quarry in the district in which the fossil-rich Malm Gamma stratum facies is accessible. The break is used by sport shooters as a shooting range.	7000 100 × 70	Type: Rock, Animal Fossils Type: Limestone	Quarry	significant	Landscape protection area, FFH area
Quarry NE of Happurg	more pictures	574A009	Happurg position	Middle Franconian Alb	In this quarry, only the short east and north walls are accessible, as the remaining part is used by a rifle club.	4000 100 × 40	Type: Rock Type: Limestone	Quarry	inferior	Landscape protection area, FFH area
Former quarry NW of Hartmannshof	more pictures	574A010	Pommelsbrunn position	Northern Franconian Alb	In the disused western part of the huge Hartmannshof quarry, there is a Malm standard profile. Resumption of mining is planned in the eastern part of the quarry.	22500 300 × 75	Type: Standard / Reference Profile Type: Limestone	Quarry	especially valuable	Natural park
Former NNW quarry in Oberndorf		574A011	Simmelsdorf position	Northern Franconian Alb	The quarry is at risk from unauthorized backfilling.	15000 300 × 50	Type: Rock Type: Limestone	Quarry	significant	Landscape protection area, nature park
Embankment on the Ludwig-Danube-Main Canal E from Dörlbach	more pictures	574A012	Burgthann position	Southwest Albrand region	The canal embankments, especially at the canal bridge, give an insight into the sequence of layers of the Lower (Lias) to the Middle Jura (Dogger) from the Amaltheenton Formation to the Opalinus Clay Formation. At the time of the canal construction (1840–1841), this was the first major outcrop in these rocks in Franconia. Since then, it has been a classic reference profile. Many fossil finds have been made here, e. B. the 1.6 m long skull of the ichthyosaur Temnodontosaurus, which was found during the construction of the canal. After landslides in 2005 and 2008, the embankment was extensively renovated in 2010–2012. The fresh findings gave rise to a new scientific investigation. The embankment is on the Nuremberg - Kelheim cycle path, which runs along the canal here.	15000 500 × 30	Type: standard / reference profile, animal fossils, layer sequence, sediment structures Type: clay marlstone	embankment	especially valuable	Landscape protection area
Former quarry SW of Regelsmühle		574A013	Alfeld position	Middle Franconian Alb	In the abandoned quarry, 2 reef pillars are exposed in the stratified limestone of the Lower Malm. The break has already been partially filled.	12500 250 × 50	Type: sedimentary structures, rock type: limestone	Quarry	precious	Landscape protection area
Former quarry in the SW of Oberrieden	more pictures	574A014	Altdorf near Nuremberg position	Middle Franconian Alb	The walls of the quarry have partly collapsed here, which makes access to the outcrops much easier.	1500 50 × 30	Type: Rock Type: Limestone	Quarry	inferior	Landscape protection area
Sand pits and dunes SW of Weißenbrunn	more pictures	574A016	Winkelhaid position	Southwest Albrand region	The area west of Weißenbrunn is characterized by large deposits of Quaternary flying sands, some of which are underlain by terrace sands. The sands form elongated, mainly north-south running dunes. The landscape shows the typical vegetation of drift sand areas with sparse pine forests and blueberry and heather bushes. In the past, the sands were mined in many pits, today the area is designated as a nature reserve and partly as a water protection area. In the north and south there are two abandoned, very large sand pits. These pits, which are up to 40 meters deep, still have some free sand areas, but the internal sediment structures of the dunes and the underlay of the drift sand with terrace sand (with small pebbles) are no longer recognizable. The scenic area is accessible by several paths. A signposted cycle path leads past in the west (with a view of the southern sand pit), in the south and east the Franconian Dune Path leads through.	1200000 1500 × 800	Type: rock type, dune type: sand	Gravel pit / sand pit	precious	Nature reserve, bird sanctuary, water reserve
Outcrop in the Steingraben W of Engelthal	more pictures	574A017	Engelthal position	Southwest Albrand region	The limestone banks of the Lias Epsilon are exposed above the Amaltheenton.	1 2 × 0	Type: stream / river course, type of layers : limestone	Impact slope / river bed / stream profile	precious	Landscape protection area
Former ESE quarry in Weißenbrunn	more pictures	574A018	Leinburg position	Middle Franconian Alb	In the abandoned quarry in the Kesselgrub corridor there is one of the few still generally accessible outcrops of sponge limestone from the Oxford strata in the southern part of the district. Due to decay, vegetation and partial backfilling, only a seven by three meter part of the outcrop wall of an upper excavation cable is preserved. In the area of the top, the formation of fragments caused by the weather can be seen. The outcrop is on a supraregional hiking trail (Frankenweg).	2500 50 × 50	Type: Rock Type: Limestone	Quarry	significant	Landscape protection area
Felsenkeller S von Altdorf (Löwengrube near Prackenfels)	more pictures	574G001	Altdorf near Nuremberg position	Southwest Albrand region	Originally an overgrown quarry, from which the sandstone for the university buildings in Altdorf was broken in the 16th century, the place was rediscovered by students 100 years later and prepared for happy festivities. At the beginning of the 19th century, the University of Altdorf closed and Altdorf citizens built a beer cellar and a bowling alley as a gallery. The large rock cellar offers good outcrops in the Rhaetian sandstone, especially with charred woods.	400 20 × 20	Type: Rock Cellar, Rock Type , Vegetable Fossils Type: Sandstone	Rock cellar	precious	Landscape protection area
Rhätschlucht Teufelskirche SE von Weinhof	more pictures	574G002	Altdorf near Nuremberg position	Southwest Albrand region	The Teufelskirche is a Rhätsandstein gorge with a waterfall at the beginning of the gorge. The fall originated from the contact of the coarse-grained, weather-resistant arietes sandstones with the softer Rhätolias sandstones and clay horizons. Already in the years 1525, 1600 and 1720 mining on coal and silver (in pebbles) was attempted. Urlichs (1966) reported 6 m long charred tree trunks.	35000 350 × 100	Type: Tunnels, Plant Fossils, Layer Sequence, Gorge, Minerals Type: Sandstone, Lignite	Tunnel / gallery / shaft	especially valuable	Natural monument, landscape protection area, FFH area
Former Heidenloch N silver sand mining from Weißenbrunn	more pictures	574G003	Leinburg position	Southwest Albrand region	In earlier centuries, the so-called silver sand (light-colored areas in the Dogger sandstone) was popular for scrubbing wooden floors and tables. The Heidenloch is the largest known mining site for this material. Access to the underground passages is blocked by a grille after the ceiling has been demolished (Fig. 4). The Heidenloch is bat winter quarters.	450 30 × 15	Type: Stud Type: Sandstone	Tunnel / gallery / shaft	precious	Landscape protection area
Mine field at Moritzberg ENE von Diepersdorf	more pictures	574G004	Röthenbach on the Pegnitz position	Southwest Albrand region	The Moritzberg is a witness mountain separated from the Alb. From its base to the summit, the sequence of layers from the upper Keuper to the lower Malm is open. The summit is formed by a remnant of the Franconian Alb plateau, which has been heavily ransacked by quarries (gravel, scouring lime) and excavation pits (probably floor ore).	20000 200 × 100	Type: Pinge / nfeld, Inselberg / Zeugenberg, type of layer sequence : Limestone	Ping	precious	Landscape protection area
Rock apartment in Thalheim (E 80)		574G005	Happurg position	Middle Franconian Alb	About four meters above the state road, between two residential buildings, there is a no longer used rock cellar carved into the Doggerstein. The property is under protection as a monument (monument no. D-5-74-128-60).	10 5 × 2	Type: rock cellar Type: sandstone	Rock cellar	significant	Monument protection
Devil's Cave SW of Altdorf	more pictures	574H001	Altdorf near Nuremberg position	Southwest Albrand region	The cave (consisting of a single large room) was artificially expanded by extracting parlor sand and a thin coal seam. The regulation of fossil woods on the cave ceiling was examined by Ulrichs (1966).	750 25 × 30	Type: eruption / weathering cave, plant fossils, sedimentary structures, tunnels, rock type: sandstone, lignite	cave	precious	Landscape protection area
Distlergrotte ENE by Finstermühle	more pictures	574H003	Neuhaus an der Pegnitz position	Northern Franconian Alb	From the entrance hall, two 90 m long corridor systems lead downwards. One corridor reaches a groundwater lake, another ends at a sandstone filling. In the winter months the entrance is closed to protect bats.	450 90 × 5	Type: Karst horizontal cave, rock wall / slope Type: Dolomite stone	cave	significant	Natural monument, landscape protection area, nature park
Cave system The wind hole SSW of Kauerheim	more pictures	574H005	Alfeld position	Middle Franconian Alb	The length of the cave is approx. 2000 m, the depth approx. 52 m. In the wind hole there is a stone structure called the table. A documentation about this cave is currently being worked on.	40000 1000 × 40	Type: Karst Shaft & Horizontal Cave Type: Limestone, Marlstone	cave	precious	Natural monument, landscape protection area, FFH area
Geißloch E from Krottensee	more pictures	574H010	Neuhaus an der Pegnitz position	Northern Franconian Alb	The shaft cave has a total length of 25 m and a maximum depth of 7 m.	125 25 × 5	Type: Karst shaft & horizontal cave Type: Dolomite stone	cave	significant	Landscape protection area, nature park
Geißlochhöhle NNE by Münzinghof	more pictures	574H011	Velden position	Northern Franconian Alb	The shaft cave has a total length of 25 m and a maximum depth of 7 m.	725 145 × 5	Type: Karst horizontal cave Type: Dolomite stone	cave	significant	Soil monument, landscape protection area, FFH area
Andreaskirche N of Rupprechtstegen	more pictures	574H012	Velden position	Northern Franconian Alb	The spacious rock hall has three entrances.	220 11 × 20	Type: Karst horizontal cave Type: Dolomite stone	cave	significant	Natural monument, landscape protection area, nature park
Large Rohenloch (D18) NE of Viehhofen	more pictures	574H013	Velden position	Northern Franconian Alb	In the cave you can see ceiling and wall plungers, pressure pipe and leaching forms. A Pleistocene fauna and prehistoric finds have been excavated.	335 67 × 5	Type: Karst horizontal cave Type: Dolomite stone	cave	significant	Soil monument, landscape protection area, nature park
Wind hole (A5) SSE from Großmeinfeld	more pictures	574H015	Hartenstein position	Northern Franconian Alb	A shaft 28 m deep and 10–12 m in diameter follows the 8 m deep collapse doline. This is often visited by cave tourists.	150 15 × 10	Type: karst shaft cave, sinkhole Type: dolomite stone	cave	precious	Landscape protection area, FFH area, nature park
Appenloch (Michelhöhle, Friedrichshöhle) D150 SSW from Münzinghof	more pictures	574H016	Velden position	Northern Franconian Alb	The short horizontal cave in the folded limestone and dolomites of the middle Malm impresses with its imposing (15 m wide, 3 m high) entrance hall. Finds of large Pleistocene fauna were also made there.	300 20 × 15	Type: Karst horizontal cave Type: Dolomite stone, limestone	Slope crack / rock wall	significant	Soil monument, landscape protection area, nature park
Kühloch (A67) NW of Hartenstein		574H017	Hartenstein position	Northern Franconian Alb	25 m long passage cave with finds of Pleistocene fauna as well as prehistoric finds from the Neolithic and La Tène periods.	38 25 × 2	Type: Karst horizontal cave Type: Dolomite stone	Slope crack / rock wall	significant	Soil monument, landscape protection area, FFH area
Sophienquelle S from Grünsberg	more pictures	574Q001	Altdorf near Nuremberg position	Southwest Albrand region	The staircase around the Sophienquelle was built in 1720. The Sophienquelle is a typical example of a shift spring. It rises on the border between Feuerletten-Rhätolias, its discharge is approx. 4 l / s.	100 10 × 10	Type: Layer Source Type: Sandstone, Mudstone	Slope crack / rock wall	precious	Landscape protection area, FFH area
Sprosselbrunnen SW from Schönberg	more pictures	574Q002	Run at the Pegnitz position	Southwest Albrand region	The Sprosselbrunnen (or Spratzelbrunnen) is a spring pouring up to several liters per second, which rises from adjacent sandstone just below the layer of the Rhätolia. In the coarse-grained sandstone, numerous round tubular holes with a diameter of 5 - 30 cm have been weathered over an area of about 2 × 2 m, some of which are water-flowing.	5 5 × 1	Type: layer source, layer level, rock type: sandstone, claystone	Slope crack / rock wall	precious	Landscape protection area
Siebenquellental SW of Thalheim		574Q003	Happurg position	Middle Franconian Alb	In the Siebenquellental southwest of Thalheim there are numerous springs on the stratum boundary from the Malm to the underlying clayey Dogger. The source outlets are natural and scenic. There are even small natural outcrops of marl limestone from Malm Alpha.	50 10 × 5	Type: film source type: Bricks, Kalkmergelstein	other information	precious	Landscape protection area
Schwarzachschlucht SW from Schwarzenbruck	more pictures	574R001	Schwarzenbruck position	Sandstone Keuper Region	The Schwarzach Gorge offers the hiker typical outcrops of the Middle Burgsandstein. Scouring, erosion caves, rocky slopes and honeycomb-like weathering forms are striking. On the northern bank of the gorge, a hiking trail leads from Gsteinach over the Gustav-Adolfs-Höhle and Karlshöhle to the west.	400000 2000 × 200	Type: Tafoni / honeycomb weathering, type of rock, bank / surf cave Type: sandstone	Impact slope / river bed / stream profile	especially valuable	Nature reserve, FFH area, bird sanctuary	Bavaria's most beautiful geotopes No. 22
Röthenbachklamm NW of Röthenbach	more pictures	574R002	Winkelhaid position	Southwest Albrand region	The Röthenbach Gorge (also popularly known as the Rumpelbach Gorge) is a Rhätsandstein gorge that is accessible to those looking for relaxation through hiking trails and resting places. At the entrance to the gorge designated as ND stands an old, half-decayed oak with a trunk circumference of 6.30 m.	30000 300 × 100	Type: Canyon Type: Sandstone	Impact slope / river bed / stream profile	significant	Natural monument, bird sanctuary
NNE gorge from Sendelbach		574R003	Ottensoo's position	Southwest Albrand region	The Rhätschlucht gorge offers outcrops in the Rhaet-Lias transition layers, which are, however, partially covered by debris deposits.	23000 460 × 50	Type: Canyon Type: Sandstone	Impact slope / river bed / stream profile	significant	Landscape protection area
Wolfsschlucht NE from Wallersberg	more pictures	574R004	Schwarzenbruck position	Southwest Albrand region	A waterfall in the west forms the best end to the deep, small Rhätsandstein Gorge.	12500 250 × 50	Type: Canyon Type: Sandstone	Impact slope / river bed / stream profile	significant	Natural monument, landscape protection area, FFH area
Bowl stone N by Fischbach	more pictures	574R005	Laufamholzer Forst position	Sandstone Keuper Region	The conspicuously weathered rock knoll made of middle castle sandstone is comparable to granite knolls weathered like wool sack. With the Celts these rocks had a cultic meaning.	100 10 × 10	Type: Ridge Type: Sandstone	Slope crack / rock wall	significant	Ground monument, bird sanctuary
Castle sandstone cliffs in Rummelsberg	more pictures	574R006	Schwarzenbruck position	Southwest Albrand region	The hilltop gives an insight into the composition and structure of the Upper Burgsandstone.	100 10 × 10	Type: Ridge Type: Sandstone	Rock slope / cliff	significant	no protected area
Hohler Fels SE from Happurg	more pictures	574R007	Happurg position	Middle Franconian Alb	Stone Age cave finds were made on the Hohlen Fels. On the cliffs above the Malm Gamma, thick limestone of the Malm Delta (with marl slab) is exposed. Above the cave there is thick-banked dolomite with chert stones.	14000 200 × 70	Type: rock wall / slope, karst horizontal cave Type: dolomite stone, limestone	Slope crack / rock wall	precious	Soil monument, landscape protection area, FFH area
Riffelfelsen E by Alfalter		574R008	Forward position	Northern Franconian Alb	The reef rock, divided by several vertical fissures, is often visited by climbers.	2500 50 × 50	Type: Rock Tower / Needle Type: Limestone	Slope crack / rock wall	significant	Natural monument, landscape protection area, FFH area
God's finger on Langenstein NW of Vorra	more pictures	574R009	Forward position	Northern Franconian Alb	The rugged rock tower, split in the upper part, is difficult to find on a wooded hilltop. It consists of very porous dolomite.	25 5 × 5	Type: Rock tower / needle Type: Dolomite stone	Slope crack / rock wall	significant	Natural monument, landscape protection area, nature park
Sounding waterfall NNE from Haimendorf	more pictures	574R011	Röthenbach on the Pegnitz position	Southwest Albrand region	The Rhaetian transition layers are outstandingly open at the Klingenden Wasserfall. The hard sandstones form a layer on the edge of which the waterfall lies.	75 15 × 5	Type: waterfall, layer sequence, layer level Type: sandstone, claystone	Impact slope / river bed / stream profile	precious	no protected area
Bastei at Zankelstein E from Pommelsbrunn	more pictures	574R012	Pommelsbrunn position	Northern Franconian Alb	On the south and south-east side of the Zankelstein, three rock towers protrude from the forest, which serve as popular observation rocks.	400 20 × 20	Type: Group of rocks Type: Dolomite stone	Slope crack / rock wall	significant	Natural monument, landscape protection area, FFH area
Spurzelgrub rock group NW of Hofstetten	more pictures	574R013	Pommelsbrunn position	Middle Franconian Alb	Rock group in the massive Franconian dolomite with a spacious half cave. The partly massive, partly thick-banked dolomite traces a reef dome.	70 7 × 10	Type: rock group, karst horizontal cave Type: dolomite stone	Slope crack / rock wall	significant	Natural monument, ground monument, landscape protection area
Düsselbacher Wand SE from Düsselbach	more pictures	574R014	Forward position	Northern Franconian Alb	The rock face is on the left slope of the Pegnitz.	1500 50 × 30	Type: Rock Wall / Slope Type: Limestone	Slope crack / rock wall	significant	Natural monument, ground monument, landscape protection area
Enzendorfer Felsen E from Enzendorf		574R018	Hartenstein position	Northern Franconian Alb	Two high rocks protrude from the wooded area. The rock faces are popular with climbers.	400 20 × 20	Type: Rock Wall / Slope Type: Limestone	Slope crack / rock wall	significant	Natural monument, landscape protection area, FFH area
Jump stone (sole stone) NE of Fischbrunn		574R020	Pommelsbrunn position	Northern Franconian Alb	The reef dolomite protrudes from the Jura slope.	100 10 × 10	Type: Rock tower / needle Type: Limestone, dolomite stone	Slope crack / rock wall	significant	Natural monument, landscape protection area, nature park
Huberfelsen near Alfeld	more pictures	574R021	Alfeld position	Middle Franconian Alb	The group of three rocks dominates the landscape of Alfeld.	1800 60 × 30	Type: Felsburg Type: Dolomite stone	Slope crack / rock wall	significant	Natural monument
Ponor Bachloch in Großengsee		574R022	Simmelsdorf position	Northern Franconian Alb	The ponor was used to drain the village. A corridor leading down to WNW connects to the three m deep Ponor shaft.	4 2 × 2	Type: Ponor, karst horizontal cave Type: Dolomite stone	cave	significant	Natural park
Felsburg Teufelskanzel WSW von Mittelburg	more pictures	574R023	Happurg position	Middle Franconian Alb	The chunky cliff has the shape of a pulpit.	150 15 × 10	Type: Felsburg Type: Dolomite stone	Slope crack / rock wall	significant	Natural monument, landscape protection area, FFH area
Stream with limestone terrace W from Kainsbach	more pictures	574R024	Happurg position	Middle Franconian Alb	Small stream lined with tufa, which has formed mossy sintered terraces on a slope.	16 4 × 4	Type: sintered terraces, streams / rivers Type: limestone, tufa	no information	precious	Landscape protection area
Stone channel W from Schrotsdorf	more pictures	574R026	Offenhausen position	Southwest Albrand region	On the northeast slope of the Buchenberg, a small stone channel has formed below a spring, directly on a supraregional hiking trail (Frankenweg). Their formation is based on abiogenic (pressure relief, temperature increase, carbon dioxide release to the ambient air) and biogenic (algae and moss get their carbon dioxide needs from the water, not from the atmosphere) precipitation of tufa. The feeding source rises in the border area of Dogger and Malm. The channel was damaged several times by vandalism. To protect them, a wooden walkway with a railing was made, and an information board explains the mechanism behind it. In addition to the original stone channel, which has fallen dry due to the damage, a new one is already being built.	30 30 × 1	Type: Stone gutter Type: Tufa limestone	other information	significant	Landscape protection area
Stone channel SW from Raschbach	more pictures	574R027	Altdorf near Nuremberg position	Middle Franconian Alb	Approx. 500 m SW of Raschbach, one of the very rare stone channels has formed at one of the numerous sources of the stream of the same name. The ornate tone separates the groundwater bodies of Dogger and Malm and represents an important source horizon. The source is popularly known as the aster or Easter fountain. The formation of the stone channel is based on two factors. Abiogenic causes of the precipitation of tufa are pressure relief, temperature increase and the release of carbon dioxide in the area close to the source. Algae and moss do not meet their carbon dioxide requirements from the ambient air, but from the calcareous water (biogenic factors). After a few tens of meters, the lime content of the water has decreased so much that the separation of tufa comes to a standstill. Obviously, the water flow was interrupted at least temporarily, so that only a small part of the water flows over the stone channel, while a new watercourse has formed to the left of it, in which the precipitation of tufa is already starting. The stone channel is a protected part of the landscape and is under special protection.	20 20 x 1	Type: Stone gutter Type: Tufa limestone	no information	significant	Landscape component, landscape protection area