Partnach Gorge
Encyclopedia
The Partnach Gorge is a deep gorge that has been incised by a mountain stream, the Partnach
, in the Reintal
valley near the south German town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen
. The gorge is 702 metres long and, in places, over 80 metres deep. It was designated a natural monument
in 1912.
, about 240 million years ago, on the bed of a shallow sea, dark grey, relatively hard layers of Alpine muschelkalk
, so-called Wurstelkalk, were laid down in the area of the present day Partnach Gorge. On the bead-like strata of this rock the traces of the burrowing and feeding of marine animals can still be seen. Importantly, about 5 million years later, softer marls were deposited in the same marine basin, which today are known as Partnach Strata (Partnach-schichten).
In the course of the subsequent Alpine mountain folding the so-called Warnberg Saddle (Warnberger Sattel) was formed from these rock strata. The erosion force of the Partnach stream, which was fed from the Schneeferner
glacier on the Zugspitzplatt plateau was great enough to carry away quickly the softer layers, to keep pace with the continued uplifting of the terrain and thus to cut into the hard Alpine muschelkalk as well.
Today the river forms the typically narrow valley shape of a gorge (Klamm) in the area of the muschelkalk rocks, whilst the areas of softer Partnach strata to the north and south have a wider valley cross-section.
From the 18th century to the 1960s the river and the gorge were used as a rafting stream. In spring the logs, marked with an owner's symbol (Hausmach), were thrown into the stream and carried by meltwaters down the valley. The freeing of jammed logs required much daring and men were frequently lost in carrying out this dangerous task. Boards on a wayside cross between the Olympic Stadium and the entrance to the gorge bear witness to these accidents.
Since 1912 the gorge has been developed for tourists and can be visited all year round. An entry fee is charged in summer between 8 am and 6 pm and in winter between 9 am and 5 pm. Outside these times the gorge may be visited at individual risk. During snowmelt in spring the gorge may also be closed for a short period.
there is a smaller gorge, the Leutasch Gorge (Leutaschklamm) on the border with Austria that has an impressive trail, opened on 24 May 2006. There is also the Höllental Gorge (Höllentalklamm) near Grainau
-Hammersbach.
Partnach
The Partnach is a 16.5 km long Bavarian mountain river. It rises at a height of on the Zugspitze Massif. The Partnach is fed by meltwaters from the Schneeferner glacier some 1100 m higher up. The glacier’s meltwaters seep into the karsty bedrock and reach the surface again near the source of the...
, in the Reintal
Reintal (Wetterstein)
The Reintal is the name given to the upper and lower valleys of the River Partnach between the Zugspitzplatt plateau and the Partnachklamm gorge...
valley near the south German town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria, southern Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Oberbayern region, and the district is on the border with Austria...
. The gorge is 702 metres long and, in places, over 80 metres deep. It was designated a natural monument
Natural Monument
A natural monument is a natural or natural/cultural feature of outstanding or unique value because of its inherent rarity, representative of aesthetic qualities or cultural significance....
in 1912.
Geology and origin
In the TriassicTriassic
The Triassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 250 to 200 Mya . As the first period of the Mesozoic Era, the Triassic follows the Permian and is followed by the Jurassic. Both the start and end of the Triassic are marked by major extinction events...
, about 240 million years ago, on the bed of a shallow sea, dark grey, relatively hard layers of Alpine muschelkalk
Muschelkalk
The Muschelkalk is a sequence of sedimentary rock strata in the geology of central and western Europe. It has a Middle Triassic age and forms the middle part of the Germanic Trias, that further consists of the Buntsandstein and Keuper...
, so-called Wurstelkalk, were laid down in the area of the present day Partnach Gorge. On the bead-like strata of this rock the traces of the burrowing and feeding of marine animals can still be seen. Importantly, about 5 million years later, softer marls were deposited in the same marine basin, which today are known as Partnach Strata (Partnach-schichten).
In the course of the subsequent Alpine mountain folding the so-called Warnberg Saddle (Warnberger Sattel) was formed from these rock strata. The erosion force of the Partnach stream, which was fed from the Schneeferner
Schneeferner
The Schneeferner in the Bavarian Alps is Germany's highest and largest glacier. It is located on the Zugspitzplatt, a plateau south of the country's highest peak, the Zugspitze, that descends from west to east and forms the head of the Reintal valley...
glacier on the Zugspitzplatt plateau was great enough to carry away quickly the softer layers, to keep pace with the continued uplifting of the terrain and thus to cut into the hard Alpine muschelkalk as well.
Today the river forms the typically narrow valley shape of a gorge (Klamm) in the area of the muschelkalk rocks, whilst the areas of softer Partnach strata to the north and south have a wider valley cross-section.
Economic significance
The gorge was already being used by local peoples in the 18th century who, at risk of their lives, transported firewood from the Reintal valley on timber raftsFrom the 18th century to the 1960s the river and the gorge were used as a rafting stream. In spring the logs, marked with an owner's symbol (Hausmach), were thrown into the stream and carried by meltwaters down the valley. The freeing of jammed logs required much daring and men were frequently lost in carrying out this dangerous task. Boards on a wayside cross between the Olympic Stadium and the entrance to the gorge bear witness to these accidents.
Since 1912 the gorge has been developed for tourists and can be visited all year round. An entry fee is charged in summer between 8 am and 6 pm and in winter between 9 am and 5 pm. Outside these times the gorge may be visited at individual risk. During snowmelt in spring the gorge may also be closed for a short period.
Rockfall
On 1 June 1991 about 5,000 m³ of rock broke away from a rock face at the southern end of the gorge and blocked the old path as well as the watercourse. Fortunately this unexpected rockfall did not claim any lives. A small, natural dammed lake was formed and the Partnach channelled its way through the giant boulders. Since 1992 a 108 m metre long gallery, blasted out of the rock, has bypassed the rock piles and lake. The gallery is lit by windows, from which one can see this natural event completely safely.Nearby gorges
In Garmisch-Partenkirchen near MittenwaldMittenwald
Mittenwald is a German municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria.-Geography:Mittenwald is located approx. 16 kilometers to the south-east of Garmisch-Partenkirchen...
there is a smaller gorge, the Leutasch Gorge (Leutaschklamm) on the border with Austria that has an impressive trail, opened on 24 May 2006. There is also the Höllental Gorge (Höllentalklamm) near Grainau
Grainau
Grainau is a municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the foot of the Zugspitze mountain, the tallest mountain in Germany in the sub-mountain range of the Wetterstein Alps which is a branch off the main mountain range it is connected to, the...
-Hammersbach.