Steinerne Rinne bei Hechlingen

Useful Information

Location:	91719 Heidenheim. (48.9890432, 10.7351094)
Open:	no restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Tufa Runnel
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	L=10 m, H=30 cm, A=490 m asl.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Markt Heidenheim, Ringstraße 12, 91719 Heidenheim, Tel: +49-9833-981345.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

The Steinerne Rinne (Tufa Runnel) near Hechlingen is located north of Hechlingen am See and around 400 m south-east of Scheckenmühle. The easiest and shortest hike to the runnel is from Scheckenmühle. With a length of 15 m and a height of 50 cm, it is probably one of the smallest tufa runnels in this area, but it is still well worth seeing. The fact that it is so small, however, is due to a water pipe that collects the spring water at the source and only feeds a small part into the remaining 15 m. The runnel used to be about 100 m long, it has probably shifted several times and formed a tufa bed.

The spring near Hechlingen rises right above the Ornatenton. This clay-rich rock layer is a water dam and thus creates a floating body of groundwater that used to emerge in a spring niche. Why the spring was captured is not explained. However, although the Steinerne Rinne is a geotope, it is not a nature reserve. Nevertheless, the small remnant is very well looked after and damage is repaired with calcareous tufa from the surrounding area.