Nature Diversity Days Kleinwalsertal 2023

Why is the Widderstein an African and the Ifen a European? Are there really two blackwater streams? What are spouting and swallowing caves? How long does it take rainwater to flow from the Hahnenköpfle to the Aubach spring? How did the Hölloch and the crevices and holes of the Gottesacker come into being? Why is the Gottesacker so dry, although it rains so much there? Can the water flow from the right to the left side of the valley?

These and many other exciting questions were answered by Prof. Dr. Nico Goldscheider, hydrogeologist and one of the best experts on the geology of the Kleinwalsertal valley.

Geology to touch and grasp. With nature guide Diana Eckhoff, we went to the source of the Breitach, the mountain river that flows through the entire Kleinwalsertal valley. There we moved into the geology base camp and not only learned about the fascinating formation of the Walser mountains, but also got active and creative ourselves while tinkering with stones and other natural treasures.

Prof. Dr. Ingmar Unkel accompanied this excursion on the topic of environmental reconstructions. Before the arrival of the Walsers, geological forces and major climatic changes formed the shape of the valley. On a hike along the Schwarzwassertal from the Auenhütte to the Alpe Melköde we went in search of (earth)historical traces left by ancient oceans and continents, mighty landslides, the forces of water and finally man in the course of time.