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| In Deutsch |
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| In Deutsch |
Blauer See
Blue Lake
Useful Information
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| Image: map of the area. |
History
Description
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| Image: the lake from the southern end. |
The Blue Lake is a small lake of extremely deep blue colour.
Although it looks like any other lake - despite the colour - it is artificial.
The open pit quarrying of limestone in this area a huge pit with
various levels and piles of overburden.
The lowest mining level was flooded by the ground water after the quarry was
abandoned.
This water from the karst body, and probably also surface water which seeps
through the overburden of the quarrying, is extremely rich in soluted limestone
and thus glows in this extreme blue colour.
The principle is rather simple: the water filters all colours of the white
sunlight except the blue wavelengths, which are reflected by the ground.
Today this lake is a famous tourist spot.
It is best visited during sunny weather, as the blue colour is much less
impressive in bad weather.
The road leads up a little valley from Rübeland to Hüttenrode, to the
left is a sign "Blauer See" and the gate to a huge parking lot.
During summer there is a kiosk selling beverages and fast food.
Now the visitor has to walk down to the lake.
There is a trail around the lake.
If you start at the upper end of the parking a narrow trail leads through bushes
and over piles of overburden.
You will reach the lake at the side where the cliffs are highest.
Following the trail you circle the lake counter clockwise and finally reach the
water at the far end.
On the other side a gravel single-lane-road leads up to the parking again.
If you want to minimize the distance of the walk, use this road for downhill too.
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| Blauer See Gallery |
See also
Karst Lake,
artificial
)
