Travertine Terrasses in the Glatt Valley


Useful Information

Location: Glatt valley near Glatt. (3471000, 5360830)
Open: no restrictions [2006]
Fee: free [2006]
Classification: KarstTufa Deposits
Light: n/a
Dimension: L=100 m, VR=50m
Guided tours:  
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address:  
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History


Description

The natural monument Quellflur Kalksinter is one of the more spectacular deposits of surface tufa or calcareous sinter in Germany. Limestone-rich spring water precipitates this lime soon after reaching the surface and thus builds up various formations of tufa. Plants, such as mosses, algae and ferns accelerate the formation of the limestone, as they take CO2 from the water. At the same time, the plants influence the form by being covered with lime, rotting and creating small and large cavities. Plant structures are reproduced in such detail in the limestone that they resemble fossils, although these are quite young imprints of the original.

In the Glatt Valley, a side valley of the Neckar, near the village of Glatt, there is a horizon of Muschelkalk about 50 m above the valley floor. Here, limestone-rich water emerges over a length of almost 100 m, which is obviously the result of an impermeable layer. The limestone tufa is precipitated beginning at the springs and all down the slope. In a 50 m wide central area the precipitation is higher and the tufa forms stone channels, sinter terraces and other weird forms.

This natural monument is not very well developed. Due to its location right at the road it is easily accessible, but there are no paths across the deposits. In order to protect the tufa and the protected flora and fauna, we urgently ask you to keep a certain distance during the visit.