Glaciers and Lakes: The Primeval Landscape
In primeval days the whole region of the Black Forest – including the Vosges on the other side of the Rhine – was covered by an ocean whose sediments of muschelkalk, keuper and Jurassic limestone covered the granite and gneiss.
After that forces from within lifted the region, the ocean disappeared and the sediments formed a huge dome which could not resist the pressure. As a consequence a long rift formed – the Upper Rhine Valley.The southern region of the Black Forest – the right rim of the rift – was pushed up higher than the northern region, that is why the highest mountains are to be found in the south:" Feldberg" 1493m, " Herzogenhorn "1415m and "Belchen" 1414m high.
In the course of time the upper layers of sediments were completely removed by erosion in the south during millions of years so that granite forms the surface here. In the north red sandstone covers the granite and gives the region a different character. The soil is not fertile and that is why we mainly find fir trees here which can grow on poor soil. Beach or oak trees are rarely to be found.
> The Regions
> The Black Forest is divided into three areas
> Famous Roads
> Homeland of the Rafters
> Lakes and the Highest Mountain
> Glaciers and Lakes: The Primeval Landscape
> The Upland Moors: The typical landscape
> At the Schluchsee
> Lake Titisee
> The Höllental
> The gorge of the Wutach
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