Iberg Dripstone Cave
Encyclopedia
The Iberg Dripstone Cave is located in southern Lower Saxony
near Bad Grund on the western edge of the Harz mountains in the 563 metre high Iberg
mountain at a height of 440 metre above sea level in the chalk
of a upper Devonian atoll
reef. The actual dripstone cave is 123 metres long. With its 78 metre long Captain Spatzier Gallery, the Yellow Climb (Gelben Stieg) and two other caverns, the total length of the cave
is 300 metres.
Between 2006 and 2008 the cave was turned into a 'cave experience centre' with the three main themes of "Fascination Cave" "The oldest family in the world" and "A reef on a journey".
or 'brown iron ore'. In 1524 the presence of caverns in the Iberg massif was mentioned for the first time. The first account in 1737 described a visit to the cave by a doctor, Franz Ernst Brückmann, on 30 March 1723. In 1874 paths and steps were laid out and the show cave
was opened to the public with a viewable length of 220 metres. The entrance gallery, the Captain Spatzier Gallery (Hauptmann-Spatzier-Stollen), was built in 1910 and 1911. Electric lighting was added in 1912 and was extended in 1935.
lies today. it was subsequently moved to its present-day site as a result of tectonic plate movements over several hundred million years.
The gallery built in 1910/11 runs through two natural caverns, the first being opened up as a new section, the Yellow Climb (Gelben Stieg), a former space largely filled with brown iron ore that had probably been excavated in the 16th century. In one chamber blue and green speleothem
s coloured by copper minerals can be seen. The usual red coloration of the speleothems in the cave is due to the presence of iron. Narrow crevices that enter from the north are richly clad with sinter. Helictites may be seen at the southern main entrance. This entrance continues in the direction of the Spatzier Gallery in curves with splendid scour holes (Auskolkungen).
and Hermann's Cave
, now lay in East Germany. The construction of a new main entrance, a new car park and the installation of the first 'special effects' lighting raised visitor numbers even more. In 1950 there were 88,000 visitors and, in 1953, 165,000. In 1972 the numbers crossed the 200,000 threshold for the first time. In 2003 there were 63,872 visitors, in 2007 still 50,847. In 2008 numbers rose again, to 76.971, as a result of the opening of the Cave Experience Centre (HöhlenErlebnisZentrums). From 2004 to 2008 the average annual number of visitors was 60,479. This makes it one of the most popular show caves in Germany.
The high visitor numbers may also be put down to the cave's location which is easily accessible by road, being close to the B 242, which is a main access route for day trippers in the Upper Harz area.
. The cost of the conversion was 3.85 million euros.
about 10 miles to the south, several Bronze Age
families could be genetically identified. DNA tests on 300 local inhabitants shown that 40 of them were descendants of these Bronze Age people.
In addition the museum looks at life in the Bronze Age and displays a number of artefacts from the period. A replica of the Lichtenstein Cave, which is not accessible to tourists, may be considered.
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
near Bad Grund on the western edge of the Harz mountains in the 563 metre high Iberg
Iberg (Harz)
The Iberg is a hill, 563 m above sea level, in the western Harz mountains in the German state of Lower Saxony.It lies north of Bad Grund, above the Harz High Road. The Iberg is an old coral reef that emerged in the Givetian/Frasnian stages, that was created as an atoll in the middle of...
mountain at a height of 440 metre above sea level in the chalk
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
of a upper Devonian atoll
Atoll
An atoll is a coral island that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.- Usage :The word atoll comes from the Dhivehi word atholhu OED...
reef. The actual dripstone cave is 123 metres long. With its 78 metre long Captain Spatzier Gallery, the Yellow Climb (Gelben Stieg) and two other caverns, the total length of the cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
is 300 metres.
Between 2006 and 2008 the cave was turned into a 'cave experience centre' with the three main themes of "Fascination Cave" "The oldest family in the world" and "A reef on a journey".
History
The cave was discovered in the 16th century by miners, who were looking for deposits of limoniteLimonite
Limonite is an ore consisting in a mixture of hydrated iron oxide-hydroxide of varying composition. The generic formula is frequently written as FeO·nH2O, although this is not entirely accurate as limonite often contains a varying amount of oxide compared to hydroxide.Together with hematite, it has...
or 'brown iron ore'. In 1524 the presence of caverns in the Iberg massif was mentioned for the first time. The first account in 1737 described a visit to the cave by a doctor, Franz Ernst Brückmann, on 30 March 1723. In 1874 paths and steps were laid out and the show cave
Show cave
Show caves — also called tourist caves, public caves, and in the United States, commercial caves — are caves that are managed by a government or commercial organization and made accessible to the general public, usually for an entrance fee...
was opened to the public with a viewable length of 220 metres. The entrance gallery, the Captain Spatzier Gallery (Hauptmann-Spatzier-Stollen), was built in 1910 and 1911. Electric lighting was added in 1912 and was extended in 1935.
Geology
The chalk mountain was originally a coral reef, formed about 385 million years ago on the spot where MadagascarMadagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
lies today. it was subsequently moved to its present-day site as a result of tectonic plate movements over several hundred million years.
The gallery built in 1910/11 runs through two natural caverns, the first being opened up as a new section, the Yellow Climb (Gelben Stieg), a former space largely filled with brown iron ore that had probably been excavated in the 16th century. In one chamber blue and green speleothem
Speleothem
A speleothem , commonly known as a cave formation, is a secondary mineral deposit formed in a cave. Speleothems are typically formed in limestone or dolostone solutional caves.-Origin and composition:...
s coloured by copper minerals can be seen. The usual red coloration of the speleothems in the cave is due to the presence of iron. Narrow crevices that enter from the north are richly clad with sinter. Helictites may be seen at the southern main entrance. This entrance continues in the direction of the Spatzier Gallery in curves with splendid scour holes (Auskolkungen).
Tourism
The dripstone cave soon became very popular and one of the tourist attractions of the Harz. There were 556 visitors in 1881 and 8,436 came in 1913. Up to the Second World War visitor numbers continued to climb, reaching 15,000 in 1937. After the war the numbers rose enormously, because the two popular Rübeländ dripstone caves, Baumann's CaveBaumann's Cave
Baumann's Cave is, like nearby Hermann's Cave, a show cave in Rübeland in the district of Harz and is Germany's oldest show cave.The grotto was formed in the Devonian limestone of the Elbingerode complex as the Bode Valley was being shaped. It was discovered in the 16th century and was...
and Hermann's Cave
Hermann's Cave
Hermann's Cave , together with Baumann's Cave, is one of two show caves in Rübeland near Wernigerode, Germany.The cave was formeed out of the Devonian limestone of the Elbingerode complex during the shaping of the Bode Valley...
, now lay in East Germany. The construction of a new main entrance, a new car park and the installation of the first 'special effects' lighting raised visitor numbers even more. In 1950 there were 88,000 visitors and, in 1953, 165,000. In 1972 the numbers crossed the 200,000 threshold for the first time. In 2003 there were 63,872 visitors, in 2007 still 50,847. In 2008 numbers rose again, to 76.971, as a result of the opening of the Cave Experience Centre (HöhlenErlebnisZentrums). From 2004 to 2008 the average annual number of visitors was 60,479. This makes it one of the most popular show caves in Germany.
The high visitor numbers may also be put down to the cave's location which is easily accessible by road, being close to the B 242, which is a main access route for day trippers in the Upper Harz area.
Cave Experience Centre
Between 2006 and 2008 the caves were converted into a Cave Experience Centre (HöhlenErlebnisZentrum). A clearly visible cubic building was constructed next to the car park and the B 242. This so-called Museum am Berg ("museum on the mountain") has a 160 metre long, 17 to 19 degree sloping tunnel (Museum im Berg) linking it to the old Iberg Dripstone Cave. This expansion and conversion has the clear imprint of the district conservationist, Prof. Dr. Reinhard Roseneck, who two years earlier had come up with a new concept for the Cistercian abbey at WalkenriedWalkenried Abbey
Walkenried Abbey was one of the most celebrated Cistercian abbeys of Germany, located in the village of Walkenried in the district of Osterode in Lower Saxony, Germany.-History:...
. The cost of the conversion was 3.85 million euros.
Museum am Berg
In the Museum am Berg the 'oldest family in the world' is displayed: By researching the bones found at the Lichtenstein CaveLichtenstein Cave
The Lichtenstein Cave is an archaeological site near Dorste, Lower Saxony, Germany. The cave is 115 metres long and was discovered in 1972. Finds include the skeletal remains of 21 females and 19 males from the Bronze Age, about 3000 years old...
about 10 miles to the south, several Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
families could be genetically identified. DNA tests on 300 local inhabitants shown that 40 of them were descendants of these Bronze Age people.
In addition the museum looks at life in the Bronze Age and displays a number of artefacts from the period. A replica of the Lichtenstein Cave, which is not accessible to tourists, may be considered.