GeoTop of the year 2024: The former quarry impresses with a mighty basalt wall in an enchanting natural setting.
The Bacher Lay, designated as a GeoTop in the Geopark since 2012, was named GeoTop of the Year in 2024, not least because of its interesting history in many respects: Geology, raw material extraction and biotope development in the aftermath of raw material extraction come together here in a very small space. The Bacher Lay is one of over one hundred highlights in the network of the National GEOPARK Westerwald-Lahn-Taunus, where tourists, schoolchildren and locals can embark on an exciting journey through time to discover the formation, extraction and utilisation of regional raw materials. Geological processes are the starting point for the development of the landscape, flora and fauna and therefore also influence us humans, because our knowledge, our experiences, our culture and our way of life are shaped by the regional landscape. From quarry to geotope Today's Bacher Lay nature reserve covers an area of almost 45 hectares. Basalt was extracted here in several quarries on both sides of the Schwarze Nister until 1967. The basalt was used as a building material, but mainly for the production of gravel and chippings for railway and road construction. Even today, basalt extraction is still an important economic factor in the Westerwald. The basalt deposit of the Bacher Lay, which was formed around 25 million years ago during the geological epoch of the Tertiary period as a result of strong volcanic activity, is characterised by a thin-column formation. This formation of basalt occurs when the basalt lava, which was originally around 1,200°C hot, cools and shrinks in the process. This causes vertical and horizontal tensile stresses to develop in the rock mass, which cause the cooling rock to fracture and can be clearly seen in the steep face of the former quarry. Biodiversity in a confined space Today, the old quarry and its surroundings serve as a habitat for rare and endangered animal and plant species. Very different habitats such as standing and flowing waters with shallow and steep banks, dry grassland, tall herbaceous meadows and basalt cliffs are located in close proximity to one another. They provide ideal living conditions for amphibians, reptiles, numerous bird species and various orchids, among others.
Contact and directions
Zwischen Bad Marienberg und Nisterau
56470 Bad Marienberg
