masterpiece of nature
With its inaccessible slopes, the rock massif of the Loreley forms a valuable habitat for animals and plants. The small-scale mosaic of bare stone, columns and cornices, crests and overhangs offers a suitable habitat for clans with the most varied of requirements and preferences. The hot, dry climate of the Rhine Valley and the sun exposure of the rock create the conditions for the occurrence of species that are actually at home in warmer regions of Europe and can only be found in a few places in Germany. A special feature of the Loreley rock are the spectacle shells, which in spring cover the rock with hundreds of bright yellow flowering cushions. The rare spleen fern, which survives weeks of drought unscathed, settles in the crevices of the rocks. On the rock platforms, species such as the bulbous leek, which originates from the Mediterranean region, and the feather grass, originally native to the steppes of south-eastern Europe, feel at home thousands of years ago they came here to the Middle Rhine through the Upper Rhine and the Danube Valley. A rare and unusual ornament is the diptam, which enchants in summer with its blooms and its orange-like scent. There are also numerous species among the woody plants that like it sunny and hot: rock cherry and rock maple, for example, which are nowhere as common in Germany as here in the Loreley valley. The fauna of the Loreley is just as diverse as the flora. The steep rocks are the territory of the smooth snake, which is absolutely harmless to humans and a real climber. There she meets, for example, the red-winged grasshopper, which is perfectly camouflaged on the rocks, but can be seen from afar in flight thanks to its glowing wings. The green lizard, which is as attractive as it is rare, prefers the less steep and more densely vegetated areas. Above all, the peregrine falcon often circles, which also likes to look for a place to nest here in the rocks. Source: text information board