Meng Gorge
The Meng Gorge is a gorge in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg close to the border with the Principality of Liechtenstein , which was mainly formed during the last Ice Age and through which the Meng flows. This is an area that is ecologically (Mengschlucht with the ravine forests) and in the lower area near the center of Nenzing is of particular importance for the local recreation of the population.
Location and course
Seen from Nenzing, the Meng Gorge runs in the lower area from east to west. In the vicinity of the Hocheck (about 747 m above sea level ) the Meng Gorge changes its course at a roughly right angle (roughly between water kilometers 2.90 and 2.82) and now runs largely from south to north.
Geology and flora
The Meng Gorge is part of the Gamperdona Valley and, in the strict sense, is about 5 kilometers long. It begins at Kühbruck , around GwKm 7.30 and ends in Nenzing in front of the local area around GwKm 2.0, where the Meng is squeezed into a narrow stone bed a short distance later. Approximately at water kilometers (GwKm) 5.47 at 765 m above sea level. A. the Gampbach ( Gampbach waterfall ) flows into the Meng Gorge.
The Mengschlucht and Gampbach together form an ensemble with 182.7 hectares included in the Vorarlberg biotope directory .
geology
The Meng flows through the Meng Gorge in the lowest section of a flysch area with isolated tuff deposits. In the upper area and in the Gampbachtal there are various conglomerates with some very impressive rock faces.
flora
The lower sections of Meng and Gampbach form niche canyon biotopes with a wilderness character. Near-natural forests can be found over long stretches, especially with stocks of pines and spiracles. In addition, there is a wide variety of rock habitats, including the rare company of the short-term sedge (Carex brachystachys) on trickled limestone tuff rocks, but also very beautiful limestone tufa spring meadows . The steep slope forests are predominantly beech and beech fir forests rich in herbaceous and tall herbaceous perennials, which are only replaced by conifer-dominated forests in the upper layers (especially along the Gampbach) and in special locations (rocks). Typical canyon forest communities, like alluvial forests, are only very small, these are essentially gray alder stocks . In special locations, the spruce (Pinus uncinata) can penetrate very deep layers and forms together with the red pine (Pinus sylvestris), but also with spruce (Picea abies), sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), yew (Taxus baccata), whitebeam (Sorbus aria) ) and juniper (Juniperus communis) light and extremely species-rich forests. The undergrowth, mostly dominated by tall pipe grass (Molinia arundinacea), is home to numerous herbs and perennials, such as grass lily (Anthericum ramosum), three-leaved laser herb (Laserpitium latifolium), swallow-wort gentian (Gentiana asclepiadea) or ox-eye (Buphthaliummum). This special forest community is replaced by the orchid red pine forest on the most warmly tinted rock faces. The occurrence of rocky sites in the most varied of locations also results in a very large number of different crevice communities. First of all, the very rare company of the short-year sedge (Carex brachystachys), which can only be found on trickled limestone rocks in a shady, extremely humid position. At the opposite end of the ecological scale are the corridors of the rock finger herb, which populate the heavily sunlit conglomerate walls .
Occurrence of endangered species
Silver fir (Abies alba), short-eared sedge (Carex brachystachys), red forest bird (Cephalanthera rubra), lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus), finger tooth root (Dentaria pentaphyllos), swallow root gentian (Gentiana asclepiadea), yew (Taxus baccus) -Ulme (Ulmus glabra).
perpetration
The Meng Gorge is only in the lower part of Nenzing that it is easily accessible for about one kilometer. The rest of the gorge can be seen from the Gamperdonaweg (toll road), but not everything is freely accessible up to Kühbruck .
Economic use
The Meng's energy was previously used for rafting . In 1896/1897, the Getzner company built a power station in the entrance area of the Meng Gorge to supply the spinning mill in Nenzing with energy. The power plant was in operation until 1984.
The illwerke vkw planning a new Meng power plant. This is to supply around 7,400 households with electrical energy (a turbine output ( Pelton turbine ) of around 7 to 10 MW and around 23 to 37 GWh of annual energy conversion is planned ). For this purpose, an inlet structure is to be built shortly after the Großtal tributary , which will lead the water to the power plant via an underground tunnel at a height of about 400 meters. The power house (tunnel power plant) is to be built near the former Mengbach catchment.
To ensure the safety of the population in the event of floods, a massive sediment barrier had to be built in 2012/2013 due to torrent and avalanche barriers shortly before the local area of Nenzing. In the course of this construction work, the Meng below this bed load barrier was renatured according to plans by Bertram Sonderegger from Göfis . A park was created that is now available to the population as an additional local recreation area.
Web links
Coordinates: 47 ° 10 ′ 56 ″ N , 9 ° 41 ′ 5 ″ E
Individual evidence
- ↑ Badigul is derived from batt de cul in the sense of slap the rear of the cattle (to drive cattle). Communication from Werner Vogt dated October 29, 2019.
- ^ Vorarlberg Biotope Inventory No. 11643 (together with the Gampbach).
- ↑ Vorarlberg Biotope Inventory No. 11642.
- ^ Update of the Vorarlberg biotope inventory, Nenzing municipality, p. 89 ff.
- ^ Update of the Vorarlberg biotope inventory, Nenzing municipality, p. 91.
- ^ Update of the Vorarlberg biotope inventory, Nenzing municipality, p. 92.
- ↑ Elmar Bereuter: Vorarlberg - Schwabenkinder-Weg , Munich 2012, Bergverlag Rother, ISBN 978-3-7633-4416-1 .
- ↑ Green light for power plant in Nenzing .
- ↑ Andreas Scalet: VKW prepares public participation for Meng power plant , vol.at of July 12, 2014.
- ↑ Illwerke VKW Magazin, issue 30, July 2014, p. 14.
- ↑ Mengschlucht , website of the market town of Nenzing.