“Eternal ice” in Westerfeld is a natural phenomenon in which ice remains in the ground even in summer. The reason is a special geological formation.
Eternal ice in Westerfeld: Interesting facts
The “Eternal Ice” is located in the Westerwald in Hesse. The Dornburg is a high heap of basalt rubble where you can discover the geophysical peculiarity.
- Origin: The basalt rock of the ground has a loose structure, which, due to the height of the heap, acts like a chimney system and allows a constant exchange of air. The air sucked in evaporates, cools down and leads to the formation of ice in deeper rock layers. This ice core in the mountain remains in place all year round. The ground is frozen to a depth of eight meters.
- Effect in summer: In summer, the air inside the heap is cooler than outside and therefore sinks. The cold air flows out at the foot of the mountain, particularly at the dug tunnel entrances. So even though summer temperatures prevail all around, it is wintery cold there.
- Effect in winter: In winter, the warm air rises further up the mountain because the air inside the heap is warmer than the air outside. There is no snow at these exit points.
- Natural wonders: In 2023, the “Eternal Ice” was chosen as the natural wonder of the year. The permafrost phenomenon was discovered in 1839 and aroused the interest of science.
- In the 19th century, a brewery took advantage of the effect to keep its beer cool. The two tunnels were built for this purpose.
Visiting Dornburg: What you should keep in mind
A visit to the “Eternal Ice” is particularly worthwhile in summer, as you can particularly clearly feel the cool air coming from the cracks in the rocks. To ensure your safety, there are a few things you should keep in mind when hiking there.
- Non-slip footwear: The paths near the “Eternal Ice” can be uneven and rocky. Rain or general moisture makes them slippery. Therefore, you need non-slip hiking shoes with a good profile.
- Appropriate clothing: Although it is warm outside, it will be significantly cooler near the crevices in summer. Make sure you wear appropriate clothing.
- Respect for nature: Especially with such a unique phenomenon, but also in nature in general, it is important to keep the environment clean, not to leave any waste behind and not to damage anything.
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