マウヘンハイムの天然記念物・トップ20

The renaturalized Selz River near Schafhausen is a prime example of successful nature conservation in Rheinhessen. This section of the Selz River south of Alzey-Schafhausen has undergone extensive ecological enhancement in recent years – and you'll notice this immediately when you walk along it.

The Aulheim Valley lies within the Flonheim district in Rheinhessen. Geologically, Rheinhessen largely corresponds to the Mainz Basin, the northeastern edge of the Upper Rhine Graben. When the Upper Rhine Graben collapsed millions of years ago during the folding of the Alps, a connection was created via the Rhone Valley to a subtropical sea in the south and via the Hessian Depression to what is now the North Sea. This led to two flooding phases in the Oligocene and Miocene. The Vorholz Peninsula was only briefly flooded. The floor of the Mainz Basin consists of rock formations from the Rotliegend or Permian periods (296–251 million years ago). There was volcanic activity here from fissure volcanoes that covered the surface with layers of lava. In the Aulheim Valley, the lava was fast-flowing, low-silica lava, which cooled quickly and solidified into porous sediment with numerous gas inclusions. This made andesite unsuitable as a building material. Water and minerals penetrated the inclusions, and after the water evaporated, agates and geodes slowly formed. On the path through the Aulheim Valley from the Geistermühle to the Aulheimer Mühle, you can still see the retaining walls of the slope on the side facing Flonheim. Boundary stones can still be found here, marking the old district boundary.

The Aulheim Valley lies within the Flonheim district in Rheinhessen. Geologically, Rheinhessen largely corresponds to the Mainz Basin, the northeastern edge of the Upper Rhine Graben. When the Upper Rhine Graben collapsed millions of years ago during the folding of the Alps, a connection was created via the Rhone Valley to a subtropical sea in the south and via the Hessian Depression to what is now the North Sea. This led to two flooding phases in the Oligocene and Miocene. The Vorholz Peninsula was only briefly flooded. The floor of the Mainz Basin consists of rock formations from the Rotliegend or Permian periods (296–251 million years ago). There was volcanic activity here from fissure volcanoes that covered the surface with layers of lava. In the Aulheim Valley, the lava was fast-flowing, low-silica lava, which cooled quickly and solidified into porous sediment with numerous gas inclusions. This made andesite unsuitable as a building material. Water and minerals penetrated the inclusions, and after the water evaporated, agates and geodes slowly formed. On the path through the Aulheim Valley from the Geistermühle to the Aulheimer Mühle, you can still see the retaining walls of the slope on the side facing Flonheim. Boundary stones can still be found here, marking the old district boundary.

Old Quarry

There used to be a coast here but that was a few days ago! 😉

Really wonderful renaturation. There are lots of places to sit and watch waterfowl.

Nature is taking back bit by bit!

Sandstone quarry near Flonheim