Slipping through time, imagine yourself 400 million years ago. A warm, shallow sea teeming with life laps against the shores of a Devonian reef. This, my friends, is the ancient heart of Die Schlade. Today, Die Schlade stands as a dry valley, a Naturschutzgebiet, or nature reserve, nestled between the districts of Hebborn and Romaney in Bergisch Gladbach. Die Schlade stretches from west to east. It’s a unique geological treasure, a window into a world long past. The very ground beneath our feet whispers tales of a vibrant coral and stromatopore reef. Stromatopores, now extinct, were sponge-like reef builders. They thrived in the tropical climate of that era. Over millennia, the landscape shifted. The sea receded, leaving behind the dry valley we see today. The name “Schlade” itself speaks to this transformation, meaning “ravine” or “valley”. The limestone bedrock, so characteristic of Die Schlade, dissolved over time. This process, known as karstification, created underground channels and caverns, diverting water away from the surface. This explains the absence of a visible river running through the valley. Die Schlade’s story doesn’t end with the receding sea. Human activity has also shaped this landscape. Quarries and iron ore mines, active until the mid-20th century, have left their mark. The remnants of the Prinz Wilhelm mine, where iron ore rich in ochre was extracted until 1925, serve as a tangible link to Die Schlade’s industrial past. The entire valley, including the site of an old lime kiln, is designated as a Bodendenkmal, a protected archaeological site. Die Schlade’s limestone, once a resource for lime burning, is now studied by geologists for its unique structure and history. The forces of nature and the touch of humankind have both played their part. Die Schlade stands as a testament to the deep time of our planet and the enduring interplay between geology and human history. As you walk through this protected area, let your imagination soar back to the Devonian seas.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to