Dreilägerbachtalsperre – Quarzitklippen älter als jedes Leben an Land

Stolberg

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At the descent to the Dreilägerbach Reservoir, bright quartzite cliffs from the Cambrian period emerge: rocks that are among the oldest in the entire region. They were formed more than 500 million years ago from fine sands that accumulated on the bottom of a prehistoric sea.

Over time, these layers solidified into firm, durable quartzite under pressure and heat – a glass-hard rock that hardly weathers. Its light color and the rough, grainy surface make it unmistakable.

When the reservoir was built in the 20th century, this quartzite served as a natural foundation. Thus, the oldest rock in the region now supports a structure of modern times – a symbol of how landscapes and their uses continuously reconnect.

History to touch: Place your hand on the rock. You are touching stone that is over half a billion years old – older than any life on land.

Impressions

  • Two hikers are walking along a narrow path in the forest. Next to the path, a calm stream flows, surrounded by green meadows and trees.
  • Two hikers are walking along a narrow path in the forest. Next to the path, a calm stream flows, surrounded by green meadows and trees.

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