 Messel Pit | ||
| Messel Pit | ||
| federal state | Hesse | |
|---|---|---|
| height | unknown | |
no value for height on Wikidata:  | ||
| Tourist info | 49 6159 717590 http://www.grube-messel.de | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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The Messel Pit is an open pit mine, which has been closed since 1970, in which oil shale was extracted. It is close to the Hessian community Messel and is mainly due to that preserved in it Fossils from the Eocene known. It was added to the list of on December 8, 1995 World cultural and natural heritage of humanity by UNESCO registered.
background
The Messeler Oil shale originated around 47 million years ago. A lake up to 300 meters deep formed in the explosion funnel of a volcanic eruption Maarthat through sedimentation was replenished. The oil shale layer, which was deposited in around 1.5 million years, is up to 150 m thick.
Bituminous claystone, iron ore and lignite were mined from 1859 to 1970. The claystone (oil shale) was carbonized for the extraction of petroleum products. The 1 million tons of crude oil obtained from this today correspond to the filling of a super tanker.
After the end of mining, the large hole was to serve as a garbage dump. By 1987, 65 million DM were invested in the ready-to-use landfill with transfer station, sewage treatment plant and administration building. The municipality of Messel submitted an urgent application to the Hessian Administrative Court in Kassel, which then refused to go into operation due to serious legal defects in the planning approval decision. As a result, in 1992 the district wanted to build a high-level landfill 100 m from the edge of the pit as a replacement. This application was only withdrawn in 1997, because of the decline in waste development and because of the costs of the legal dispute, which until then totaled 600,000 DM, the community and the private plaintiffs together.
In 1991 the state of Hesse applied for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Since December 1995, the fossil site has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The flora and fauna of more than 47 million years ago were preserved in the Maar volcano at Messel. The most famous find is the primeval horse. In addition, over 150 other species have now been found as fossils (birds, reptiles, insects, and many plant species). Finds are still being made today. The idea of Darwinus, an extinct primate that was presented to the public in 2009.
The mine has been operated by the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research since 1992.
getting there
The Messel pit is located approx. 2 km south of the town of the same name.
By train
Messel is on the regional train line Wiesbaden–Darmstadt–Aschaffenburg with an hourly stop. It is a 1–1.5 km walk from the train station to the Messel Pit.
By bus
The U bus runs every two hours between Darmstadt-Kranichstein via Messel to the Messel pit. At the weekend, the OF-96 bus leaves from Heusenstamm above Dietzenbach and Dreieich also every two hours to the pit.
In the street
The pit is northeast of Darmstadt, about halfway to The castle. Extensive access via the A5 motorway. The L3094 road leads to the pit, where there is a parking lot.
If you come via the A661, you can take the exit Long and via Offenthal on the federal road B486 and the L3317 in the direction of Messel drive.
mobility
activities
Viewing platform
The freely accessible viewing platform a bit away from the visitor center allows a view into the pit. From here you have an overview of the entire area. Detailed information boards on the platform provide information about the world natural heritage. There are also two viewpoints on the roof of the visitor center.
Visitor and information center
The Visitor and information center "Time and Messel Worlds" was built right on the edge of the Messel pit and opened on August 26, 2010. It is not a museum, but designed as a meeting place for science and the public. The architecture of the building is derived from the layering of the oil shale. The visitors “wander” through the layers of the earth. The visitor center is operated by a non-profit company which, like the Messel pit itself, belongs to the state of Hesse.
- Open: daily 10 am–5pm. Admission until 4 p.m.
- Admission: 10 euros, reduced (children between 7 and 18 years of age, people from 63 years of age, severely disabled people, students, military and alternative service workers, each with ID) 8 euros.
- Guided tours through the exhibition for small groups and individual visitors take place Mon – Fri at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Participation costs 14 euros including admission. For larger groups there are staggered prices upon prior registration. Children under the age of seven participate for free.
- There is an extensive program with Guided tours through the Messel Pit. Since the mine is subject to mining law, access is only possible as part of guided tours. Sturdy shoes and clothing suitable for the weather are a prerequisite for participation. The number of participants is limited, so you should register in advance by phone.
- One-hour tour as a “mine walk”. Daily 12:30 p.m. Fr. 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.; Sat., Sun., public holidays: 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m. 7 euros / person; Children under 7 years free.
- Two-hour guided tour as a “mine hike”, “past the excavation sites of the researchers to the artesian well on the bottom floor of the pit”: Friday 4:30 pm; Sunday 3:00 p.m. 9 euros / person; Children under 7 years free.
- Other dates are the Visitor brochure can be seen, among other things, you can watch the researchers during the ongoing excavations during the summer vacation.
Museums
Three museums and the Geo-Naturpark Bergstrasse-Odenwald exhibit fossil finds from the Messel pit:
- 1 Messel municipality
, Langgasse 2. 64409 Messel. Tel.: (0)6159 5119. "Characteristic fossils of the pit" are shown.Open: April - October: Tue - Fri 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sat, Sun public holidays. 10.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. November - March: Sa 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Guided tours by appointment.Price: free entry. Guided tours of the mine and museum by prior arrangement by telephone. Participation 9 euros; Special prices for groups.
- 2 Senckenberg museum, Senckenberganlage 25, 63325 Frankfurt / Main. Tel.: (0)69 75420. Extensive section with fossil finds from the pit as part of the permanent exhibition.Open: Mon - Fri 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wed 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sat, Sun public holidays 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Guided tours by appointment.Price: Admission: adults 16–65 years: 6 euros, from 66 years: 5 euros, severely disabled people from 50%: 4 euros, children (6-15 years), schoolchildren and students: 3 euros, Frankfurt pass adults: 3 Euro; (Children: 2 euros), family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children between 6 and 15 years): 15 euros.
- 3 Hessian State Museum, Friedensplatz 1. 64283 Darmstadt. Tel.: (0)6151 165703. Exhibition of fossils from the Messel Pit. Closed for renovation until 2013.
- Geo-Naturpark Bergstrasse-Odenwald, Nibelungenstrasse, 64653 Lorsch. Tel.: (0)6251 707990.
accommodation
Hotels in the vicinity are mainly found in Darmstadt, as well as other destinations in the Odenwald.
literature
- Gerd deficiency: The fascination of the Messel Pit World Heritage Site. Kleine Senckenberg row 52. ISBN 978-3-510-61398-4 . Verlag Schweizerbart. Book accompanying the exhibition in the visitor center.
Web links
- Messel Pit
- brochure of the visitor center
