Name: Tongrubengelände von Bensheim und Heppenheim Nature Reserve
Rating: 2

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Natural Monuments

Karlsruhe District

Tongrubengelände von Bensheim und Heppenheim Nature Reserve

Natural Monuments

Karlsruhe District

Tongrubengelände von Bensheim und Heppenheim Nature Reserve

Recommended by 17 hikers

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Tongrubengelände von Bensheim und Heppenheim

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Location: Bensheim, Kreis Bergstraße, Karlsruhe District, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

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Best Hikes to Tongrubengelände von Bensheim und Heppenheim Nature Reserve

4.5

(16)

108

hikers

1. Jochimsee – Soft Serve Ice Cream Kiosk loop from Port Arthur

6.93km

01:45

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.4

(10)

hikers

2. Jochimsee – Soft Serve Ice Cream Kiosk loop from Nordstadt

7.33km

01:52

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.3

(6)

hikers

3. Meerbach Stream in Winter – View of Starkenburg loop from Bensheim

5.28km

01:20

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Martin

October 6, 2023

Size 92 hectares
Established in 1977
FFH area/Natura 2000
Bird sanctuary

The clay pit area consists of overgrown ponds and reed areas, some of which are overgrown with trees and bushes.
It offers valuable biotopes for many rare species of birds, amphibians and insects.
Nabu supervisors were able to identify up to 90 species of breeding birds, such as: B. little grebe, pond rail, kingfisher, coot and red kite.
There are also feeding guests such as storks and herons.

Large parts of the nature reserve are not accessible. There is an observation hut at the Jägerteichen in the Heppenheim area that provides good views of the Jägerteiche.

From history:
Until around 2000 years ago, the Neckar still meandered through the Hessian Ried and flowed into the Rhine north of Darmstadt. The river transported, among other things: large amounts of clays settling in shallow water.
A field-fired brickworks was operated as early as 1894.
Industrial clay production by the Heppenheim Tonwerk took place from 1900 to 1960.

In 1941 a manufacturing facility was added in Bensheim.
During the Second World War, forced labor temporarily kept production in the clay factory going. A memorial erected in Heppenheim in 2018 on the edge of the site commemorates the forced laborers.

The mining pits that were created during clay extraction filled with groundwater. Shallow ponds with lots of reeds formed and provided useful biotopes for numerous bird and amphibian species.
A land consolidation in 1964 and other structural measures led to a lowering of the groundwater, drainage and silting up of the ponds.

In 1977 the area was designated as a nature reserve and measures were initiated to renaturate and restore the shallow water ponds.
A water intake structure was built on the Meerbach in Bensheim;
it ensures water replenishment and prevents the ponds from drying out.
In 1989 the nature reserve was expanded to its current size and legally designated as a nature reserve.
(Excerpt from Wikipedia)

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 150 m

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Tuesday 21 October

16°C

12°C

70 %

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Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h

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Location: Bensheim, Kreis Bergstraße, Karlsruhe District, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Tongrubengelände von Bensheim und Heppenheim Nature Reserve

1. Jochimsee – Soft Serve Ice Cream Kiosk loop from Port Arthur

2. Jochimsee – Soft Serve Ice Cream Kiosk loop from Nordstadt

3. Meerbach Stream in Winter – View of Starkenburg loop from Bensheim

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