The Höwenegg
A Hegau volcano with a “crater lake”
Are there volcanoes in the Donaubergland? You stand in front of the small, shimmering green lake on the Höwenegg volcano near Immendingen, almost in disbelief and wonder how this lake got here.
It’s a long story, because it began ten million years ago.
Höwenegg is one of the volcanoes in Hegau. A good ten million years ago, it spewed out basalt rock and, like some of the volcanoes in Hegau, was a basalt cone for a long time.
The formation of the lake
Mining of the extremely hard basalt rock began in the 19th century. Tunnels and drainage shafts were dug, and rails were laid to transport the rock away with wagons – just like in a mine.
Basalt was mined here until the end of the 1970s. This
created a large hole that we now call – not quite correctly – a crater.
After mining ceased, the crater quickly filled with rain and surface water and a lake formed.
Important habitat
This lake is now a nature reserve for rare animals and plants, which you are not allowed to enter. At one time, it was even considered using the crater as a landfill site, but fortunately this was prevented.
“Crater lake”
Hoewenegg from above
The special find
Have you ever heard of the three-toed ancient horse, the Hipparion?
At Höwenegg, researchers found a complete skeleton of a small horse and soon realized that it was an archaeological sensation. They also found other complete skeletons of prehistoric animals. These included antelopes and prehistoric rhinoceroses, hyena-like predators and sabre-toothed tigers. Ten million years ago, the area was probably a real “Jurassic Park”.
Today, the finds can be admired in the Natural History Museum in Karlsruhe and in part also in the local history museum in Immendingen.
Our recommendations
for hiking and cycling tours
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AlbCard
By the way, absolutely attractive: the AlbCard – the guest card for the whole of the Swabian Alb – is also available from selected businesses in the Donaubergland.
