Jura dry slope nature reserve with the rock group "Twelve Apostles"

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The Juratrockenhang nature reserve with the rock group "Twelve Apostles" is a protected area with the rock formation "Twelve Apostles" in the Altmühl valley in Bavaria .

The Twelve Apostles near Solnhofen
Two rock towers of the "Twelve Apostles" rock group near Solnhofen

location

The nature reserve is located on the south to west exposed valley slope of the Altmühltal in the Altmühltal nature park , the second largest nature park in Germany with an area of ​​almost 3,000 km² , between the Central Franconian community of Solnhofen and its district of Eßlingen . It is the most important and most beautiful nature reserve in the southern Franconian Alb in the Altmühltal.

"Twelve Apostles" rock formation

The rock formations consist of dolomitic sponge limestone and form a series of rock towers above the banks of the Altmühl, which have remained on the threshold of the White Jurassic Sea after the erosion of the softer Malm rock , also known as the White Jura . Towards the river, they rise more or less vertically from the sloping slopes. The color of the rock changes between ivory, light gray, gray-yellow and green-gray.

vegetation

It is divided into two areas around the Twelve Apostles. On the slab of limestone between the rocks, there are extensive semi- arid grasslands , also known as dry grasslands , which merge into light juniper - pine forests. In the upper area of ​​the rock towers with their crevices and rock band associations there is a small-scale mosaic of real dry grass . Originally there was a mixed beech and oak forest here , into which humans have been driving sheep and goats since the early Middle Ages. Biting the budding young trees, damage caused by treading and felling the older trees, a light and warmth-loving flora (and fauna) could spread over time; the species immigrated from the Mediterranean and the steppe areas of south-eastern Europe. Among the 187 rare or protected dry grass plant species on the Red List , the Twelve Apostles include the sun rose , the Carthusian carnation and the pasque flower . The juniper also emerged through grazing, as the animals did not like to eat thorny, prickly, strongly flavored or poisonous plants.

Geotope

The rock group has been identified by the Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU) as a geoscientifically valuable geotope (geotope number: 577R008). It was also awarded the official seal of approval for Bavaria's most beautiful geotopes by the LfU .

tourism

Two tourist routes in the Altmühltal Nature Park, the Altmühl Cycle Path and the Altmühltal Panorama Path , a hiking trail that runs separately from it , lead past the Twelve Apostles.

Trivia

At the end of the rock group is the 13th Apostle inn .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Bavarian State Office for the Environment, Geotop rock group "Twelve Apostles" N von Eßlingen (accessed on December 11, 2017).
  2. Bavaria's most beautiful geotopes, Twelve Apostles Rock (accessed December 11, 2017)

Web links

Commons : NSG Juratrockenhang with the rock group Twelve Apostles  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 48 ° 53 ′ 37 ″  N , 11 ° 1 ′ 2 ″  E