レートゲンの天然記念物・トップ20

According to local tradition, an old legend explains the origin of the Teufelsley (Devil's Rock). The devil was said to have been enraged because a monastery was to be built in the region. In his anger, he dislodged a massive boulder from the heights to destroy the structure. However, as he approached with the stone, an angel intervened, thwarting the devil's plan and stopping his attack. The rock brought by the devil then remained in its present location and has been called Teufelsley ever since.

At this point there is a larger moor lake, which makes a nice photo motif, especially in fog. Above this, this moor lake is regularly visited by waterfowl such as wild ducks. If there are few people on the jetties and you approach the lake(s) quietly, there is a high probability that the animals will not be startled and scared away.

The peat that can be found everywhere in the bog and fen areas is the result of a process of incomplete decomposition. Usually, dead plants are gradually decomposed by small animals (such as earthworms), bacteria and fungi. This process applies to well-drained soils. On impervious acidic soils that do not contain many bacteria and in humid climates, plants such as peat moss are only partially decomposed. Their superimposition forms the peat layer. This peat layer can be up to 7 m in certain places here in the Brackvenn. 1 mm layer of peat takes 1 year to form. With a peat layer of 7 m, for example, we are talking about a period of 7,000 years.

Anyone who sees the beauty of the raised and low moors will never be able to let it go. The colors of the landscape, indeed the entire appearance of the High Fens, change dramatically every season. Even in winter - a breathtakingly beautiful landscape.

What is often called a lake in the Fens is often e.g. Palsas. The palsen or pingos in the High Fens were formed around 10,000 to 11,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. When the ground froze deep down during the cold winters of the Ice Age, the wet ground expanded and frost mounds developed. Over the years these mounds grew and the soil material that was on top slid down the sides of the mounds and over time formed a ring-shaped wall around the mound of frost. With the end of the ice age, the ice melted, the frost mound sagged and the wall was preserved. The water in the middle is called bog scour or bog eye. Source: euregio-im-bild.de/fotos/palsen-im-brackvenn-bei-m-tzenich.html

What a unique landscape! Warning: hiking in the High Fens can be addictive :-)

Unfortunately, the third of the above tours (Struffelt nature reserve - view of the Runde von Roetgen reservoir, 9.46 km) is currently (04/30/22) not accessible. The parking lot is closed and the path from the parking lot is not hikeable due to numerous large fallen trees 😱🙁. So it's no use starting this tour from the nearest car park - the Kleebendbrücke hikers' car park.

Beautiful rock formation in the Rur Valley.