Dragon Mountains (Drachenberge)

Giesers, longitudinal valleys with no outlet, morphology unchanged by human activity

Site Description

In the area of the Drachenberge between Krauschwitz (to the east), Weißwasser (to the west), the B 156 (to the north) and the former Weißwasser-Forst railway line (to the south), a gieser landscape unchanged by human activity has survived in an approximately 3 km2 area of pine forest. Here, along a 700m stretch of forest path, five of the largest and deepest giesers in the Muskauer Faltenbogen can be crossed (width approximately 50 m, occasionally up to 70 m, depth 3-15 m).
Giesers are elongated valleys with no outlet. They are formed by the sinking of raised coal seams. As a result of slow oxidation in the area of the air-filled pore space (under the surface, above the water table), the coal undergoes humification and reduces in volume.

Data

Locality

Německo

Terrain difficulty

2 / 5

Time required

0.5 hours.

Elevation difference

23 m

What will you see here?

Dračí hory

1

Digital terrain model of the territory of the Drachenberge area (without vegatation). Size: 1.5 x 2 km, topography inflation x2.

Dračí hory

2

Cross-section of a gieser, drawn according to an outcrop in the Mulde VII former opencast mine lake near Halbendorf

Dračí hory

3

At a depth of 15 m, the double gieser at the southern end of the excursion path is among the deepest in the Faltenbogen.

Do you know that...

Did you know that three pears are represented on the coat of arms of Krauschwitz? They refer to the Sorbian name Krušwica, which means ‘pear village’. A hammer and anvil also appear, symbolising iron smelting during the founding period of the neighbouring village Keula.

For Curious Minds

Zatím zde není nic.

How to Reach Us

In Krauschwitz, go west at the junction of the B 156 and the B 115. After around 500 m you will reach the entrance area of an electricity substation. It is possible to park here. Approximately 70 m further west, a forest path leads south. After a short distance on this path, turn right, go around an electricity pylon, and then turn left on the straight path which leads south over several gieser to the Drachenberge. Sturdy footwear is required.

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