Dreilägerbachtalsperre – Quarzitklippen älter als jedes Leben an Land
Stolberg
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.
mehr lesen 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.
