The "Geopark Harz - Braunschweiger Land - Ostfalen" is a network of now 17 outstanding geotopes. Since 2002, it connects significant archaeological, historical and cultural objects that are closely linked to natural resources. Since February 11, 2005, our Geopark has been recognized by UNESCO as a member of the "Global Network of Geoparks".
Our mining museum and show mine Röhrigschacht in Wettelrode is part of the Geopark's landmark number 12, which is located in the southern Harz region between Sangerhausen and Wallhausen and includes the Helme lowlands.
Up to 2 million years old and more than 50 meters thick, most of the clays, silts, sands and gravels with which the Helme filled the lowlands in the Pleistocene can be found. Together with the rocks of the Tertiary, they form the unconsolidated bedrock. Tectonic processes about 80 - 50 million years ago changed the originally flat bedding of the marine and lake sediments.
Today, rocks of different ages from different formation areas occur next to each other in the rock floes. As soon as the rocks of the Zechstein come close to the earth's surface, dissolution processes by water begin due to their chemical composition. This process is called karstification.
Gypsum karst is found throughout the southern Harz Mountains. It is characterized by romantic caves, bizarre morphological forms and rare flora, which can be observed along the karst hiking trail.
The "Hohe Linde" pointed cone dump is the center of Landmark 12, and is the outward sign of copper shale mining in the Sangerhausen district.
The side rocks of the copper shale seam were heaped up here from 1956 - 1990 on an area of 12.6 hectares, 145 meters high. Today, with its silhouette visible from afar, it is one of the landmarks of Sangerhausen.
Other fascinating landmarks in our region are the Grillenburg, the Wippra zone in the former quarry at the horse heads, the Schlösschenkopf near Lengefeld, the Dinsterbachschwinde near Questenberg, the Bauerngraben near Breitungen, the Heimkehle near Uftrungen, the open-air museum Tilleda, the Karst hiking trail and last but not least the city of Sangerhausen itself.
Our mining museum and show mine Röhrigschacht in Wettelrode is part of the Geopark's landmark number 12, which is located in the southern Harz region between Sangerhausen and Wallhausen and includes the Helme lowlands.
Up to 2 million years old and more than 50 meters thick, most of the clays, silts, sands and gravels with which the Helme filled the lowlands in the Pleistocene can be found. Together with the rocks of the Tertiary, they form the unconsolidated bedrock. Tectonic processes about 80 - 50 million years ago changed the originally flat bedding of the marine and lake sediments.
Today, rocks of different ages from different formation areas occur next to each other in the rock floes. As soon as the rocks of the Zechstein come close to the earth's surface, dissolution processes by water begin due to their chemical composition. This process is called karstification.
Gypsum karst is found throughout the southern Harz Mountains. It is characterized by romantic caves, bizarre morphological forms and rare flora, which can be observed along the karst hiking trail.
The "Hohe Linde" pointed cone dump is the center of Landmark 12, and is the outward sign of copper shale mining in the Sangerhausen district.
The side rocks of the copper shale seam were heaped up here from 1956 - 1990 on an area of 12.6 hectares, 145 meters high. Today, with its silhouette visible from afar, it is one of the landmarks of Sangerhausen.
Other fascinating landmarks in our region are the Grillenburg, the Wippra zone in the former quarry at the horse heads, the Schlösschenkopf near Lengefeld, the Dinsterbachschwinde near Questenberg, the Bauerngraben near Breitungen, the Heimkehle near Uftrungen, the open-air museum Tilleda, the Karst hiking trail and last but not least the city of Sangerhausen itself.