Earth:Bear's Cave (Erpfingen)
[ ⚑ ] 48°22′15″N 9°12′55″E / 48.37083°N 9.21528°E
| Bear's Cave | |
|---|---|
| German: Bärenhöhle | |
 Reconstructed cave bear skeleton from Bear's cave | |
| Coordinates | [ ⚑ ] 48°22′15″N 9°12′55″E / 48.37083°N 9.21528°E |
| Geology | White Jura |
Bear's Cave (German: Bärenhöhle) is a tourist cave in Sonnenbühl, Germany . It is named after the numerous cave bear skeletons found there, that likely inhabited the site 20,000 years ago.[1] With 80,000 visitors annually, it is the most visited show cave in Swabian Jura. Bear's Cave was formed in limestone of the White Jurassic,[2] and provided shelter for various types of prehistoric animals.[3] The caves have also been home to a theme park, Dreamland, since 1974.[4]
The cave is made up of two parts, the Karlshöhle, discovered in 1834,[5] and the Bärenhöhle, discovered in 1949.[6] The first part of the cave was initially vandalised and pillaged by visitors upon its discovery,[1] and was only reopened to the public upon the discovery of the second cave.
History
The cave system was developed over a period of about five million years.[7] Fossils show that 20,000 years ago, bears, rhinoceroses and German cave lions roamed the area,[1] and full reconstructions of the bear's skeletons can be viewed on the site today. 8,000 years ago, it was inhabited by humans.[8] The stalactites in the cave were formed in White Jura. Since April 2013, the site has been one of the 26 information points of UNESCO Global Geoparks, Swabian Jura.[9]
Discovery of Karlshöhle
In 1834,[10] a local teacher known mononymously as "Fauth" accidentally discovered this part of the cave.[11] While collecting herbs, he dropped his Tabaksdose (tobacco packet) into a crevice, which he found he could widen and climb down.[12] The next day, him and his friends opened up the cave to tourists, who raided it for souvenirs, or vandalised its geology.[1] Today, the entrance Fauth found is named "Fauthloch" in his honour.[11]
Discovery of Bärenhöhle
In 1949,[10] Karl Bez, a recreational cave explorer saw a bat disappear through a crack. He climbed through and found 30 bear skeletons[12] in this undiscovered part of the caves.
Dreamland
The bear-themed park Dreamland (German: Traumland) has been operating in Bear's cave since 1974. The Ferris wheel with the highest location in Europe can be found there.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dreamland Theme Park. |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Bärenhöhle" (in de). https://www.schwaebischealb.de/attraktionen/baerenhoehle.
- ↑ ""Bärenhöhle" (Bears Cave)". https://www.geopark-alb.de/de/B%C3%A4renh%C3%B6hle-Bears-Cave.
- ↑ "Exploring the Swabian Alb" (in en). https://www.tourism-bw.com/things-to-do/nature/exploring-the-swabian-alb.
- ↑ "Startseite". https://www.freizeitpark-traumland.de/.
- ↑ "Bärenhöhle" (in de). https://www.outdooractive.com/de/poi/schwaebische-alb/baerenhoehle/1626346/.
- ↑ "Bären- und Nebelhöhle". http://www.badurach-tourismus.de/en/Experience/Activities/Excursion-destinations/Baeren-und-Nebelhoehle.
- ↑ "Show Caves of Germany: Bärenhöhle". https://www.showcaves.com/english/de/showcaves/BaerenLHF.html.
- ↑ e.V, Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus. "A warm welcome awaits at Traumland leisure park at Bärenhöhle cave" (in en). https://www.germany.travel/en/specials/family-attractions/traumland-leisure-park-at-baerenhoehle-cave.html.
- ↑ "GeoPark Schwäbische Alb". https://www.geopark-alb.de/de/geopark-erleben/infostellen.php.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Bärenhöhle und Nebelhöhle in Sonnenbühl" (in de). https://www.gefako.de/archiv/2016/baerenhoehle-und-nebelhoehle-in-sonnenbuehl~192c.de.html.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Höhlenwelten Sonnenbühl: Bärenhöhle". https://hoehlen.sonnenbuehl.de/startseite/baerenhoehle.html.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Schwäbische Alb - Höhlen - Kolbinger Höhle - Linkennbolds-Höhle - Bärenhöhle". https://www.reiserat.de/reisen_deutschland/schwaebische_alb/hoehlen3.html.
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