Scharfenstein lies ca. 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) north-east of the town centre of Gudensberg, and ca. 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) west-south-west of the village of Dissen. Directly next to it runs the Bundesautobahn 49, and the hill can be reached from a car park off the autobahn. Alternatively the outcrop can be reached on foot from Dissen by crossing a bridge over the autobahn.
Geologyedit
The hill is the remains of an extinct volcano that belongs to the West Hesse Depression.[1] The volcano was active in the Miocene, i.e. it began 20 million years ago and ended 7 million years ago. The only part of the volcano that is left is the neck or volcanic plug; the rest has been eroded. The alkali basalt has a silica (SiO2) volume percentage of 45-55%.[2] The main minerals in the rock are plagioclase, augite and olivine.
Peculiar to Scharfenstein, compared to other basalt outcrops in the area, are the very well-developed basalt columns, which are for the most part horizontal or slightly inclined. Basalt in columnar form is due to cooling, in which the long axis of the column is in the direction of the slowest cooling. It is likely that after eruption or intrusion, the basalt slumped back to produce the outcrop features at Scharfenstein.
The fresh broken edges of basalt are as sharp as a knife edge, which gives Scharfenstein (English: sharp stone) its name. Between the 21 and 22 March 1865, as the result of weathering, especially repeated freezing and cracking, the original outcrop broke apart and was reduced in height by a half.
Cultural Heritageedit
In 1838, Franz von Dingelstedt published a collection of poems, one of which was entitled 'Althessiche Sage' (English: old hessian legend).[3] It tells the romantic story of a band of Romanwarriors, who, after being defeated in battle by the German barbarians, ask for sanctuary. They are then locked inside the hill and only come out in moonlight.
At Scharfenstein, at midnight hour, Are mystic tones revealed, Like tramp of war-steeds, and shield. What clang of armour! Why, the doors Assail tumultuously, Till Scharfenstein moves circling round, And caverns open fly?
— Franz von DingelstedtThe Mountain of Scharfenstein, 1st verse, translated by Mary Anne Burt, London, 1855.[4]
It is said that a beautiful virgin keeps a treasure chest within the hill. On every seventh year she comes out and sneezes seven times. Whoever, at this time, calls out "Gott helf!" (English: lit - so help me God!, or bless you!) will receive the treasure and girl. Once a coach driver heard the sneezing, and called out six times "Gott helf!". But instead, on the seventh time, he cursed loudly and the girl disappeared. She was never seen again.
View from the southern summit of Scharfenstein of the northern half of the outcrop. In the middle the famous climbing route, Schiefe Anna.
^ Wedepohl, K. H. (1985). "Origin of the Tertiary basaltic volcanism in the Northern Hessian Depression". Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology. 89: 122–143. Bibcode:1985CoMP...89..122W. doi:10.1007/BF00379448. ISSN 0010-7999.
^ Wilson, Marjorie; Downs, Hilary (1991). "Tertiary-Quaternary extension-related alkaline magmatism in Western and Central Europe". Journal of Petrology. 32 (4): 811–849. Bibcode:1991JPet...32..811W. doi:10.1093/petrology/32.4.811. ISSN 0022-3530.
^ von Dingelstadt, Franz (1838). Gedichte. Fischer. p. 201.
^ "Franz von Dingelstedt - The Mountain of Scharfenstein". Retrieved 9 October 2014.
^ "List of Routes on Scharfenstein". Retrieved 13 October 2014.
scharfenstein, hesse, scharfenstein, metres, hill, composed, basalt, schwalm, eder, kreis, district, north, hesse, germany, remains, number, extinct, volcanoes, west, hesse, depression, scharfensteinview, scharfenstein, from, odenberghighest, pointelevation304. Scharfenstein is a 304 metres 997 ft hill composed of basalt in the Schwalm Eder Kreis district of North Hesse Germany It is the remains of one of a number of extinct volcanoes in the West Hesse Depression ScharfensteinView of Scharfenstein from OdenbergHighest pointElevation304 m 997 ft NormalhohennullProminence35 m 115 ft Isolation1 2 km 0 75 mi OdenbergCoordinates51 11 32 N 9 23 34 E 51 19222 N 9 39278 E 51 19222 9 39278GeographyScharfensteinSchwalm Eder Kreis Hesse GermanyGeologyAge of rockMioceneMountain typeextinct volcanoVolcanic arc beltWest Hesse Depression Contents 1 Geographical Location 2 Geology 3 Cultural Heritage 4 Legend 5 Outdoor Activities 6 ReferencesGeographical Location editScharfenstein lies ca 2 5 kilometres 1 6 mi north east of the town centre of Gudensberg and ca 1 kilometre 0 62 mi west south west of the village of Dissen Directly next to it runs the Bundesautobahn 49 and the hill can be reached from a car park off the autobahn Alternatively the outcrop can be reached on foot from Dissen by crossing a bridge over the autobahn Geology editThe hill is the remains of an extinct volcano that belongs to the West Hesse Depression 1 The volcano was active in the Miocene i e it began 20 million years ago and ended 7 million years ago The only part of the volcano that is left is the neck or volcanic plug the rest has been eroded The alkali basalt has a silica SiO2 volume percentage of 45 55 2 The main minerals in the rock are plagioclase augite and olivine Peculiar to Scharfenstein compared to other basalt outcrops in the area are the very well developed basalt columns which are for the most part horizontal or slightly inclined Basalt in columnar form is due to cooling in which the long axis of the column is in the direction of the slowest cooling It is likely that after eruption or intrusion the basalt slumped back to produce the outcrop features at Scharfenstein The fresh broken edges of basalt are as sharp as a knife edge which gives Scharfenstein English sharp stone its name Between the 21 and 22 March 1865 as the result of weathering especially repeated freezing and cracking the original outcrop broke apart and was reduced in height by a half Cultural Heritage editIn 1838 Franz von Dingelstedt published a collection of poems one of which was entitled Althessiche Sage English old hessian legend 3 It tells the romantic story of a band of Roman warriors who after being defeated in battle by the German barbarians ask for sanctuary They are then locked inside the hill and only come out in moonlight At Scharfenstein at midnight hour Are mystic tones revealed Like tramp of war steeds and shield What clang of armour Why the doors Assail tumultuously Till Scharfenstein moves circling round And caverns open fly Franz von Dingelstedt The Mountain of Scharfenstein 1st verse translated by Mary Anne Burt London 1855 4 Ludwig Emil Grimm 14 March 1790 4 April 1863 the third brother of the more famous Brothers Grimm Jacob and Wilhelm painted Scharfenstein in watercolours see figure right in 1835 i e before it broke apart nbsp Watercolour of ScharfensteinLegend editIt is said that a beautiful virgin keeps a treasure chest within the hill On every seventh year she comes out and sneezes seven times Whoever at this time calls out Gott helf English lit so help me God or bless you will receive the treasure and girl Once a coach driver heard the sneezing and called out six times Gott helf But instead on the seventh time he cursed loudly and the girl disappeared She was never seen again nbsp View from the southern summit of Scharfenstein of the northern half of the outcrop In the middle the famous climbing route Schiefe Anna Outdoor Activities editScharfenstein is a well known target for climbers There are over 85 climbing routes on the basalt hill 5 6 References edit Wedepohl K H 1985 Origin of the Tertiary basaltic volcanism in the Northern Hessian Depression Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 89 122 143 Bibcode 1985CoMP 89 122W doi 10 1007 BF00379448 ISSN 0010 7999 Wilson Marjorie Downs Hilary 1991 Tertiary Quaternary extension related alkaline magmatism in Western and Central Europe Journal of Petrology 32 4 811 849 Bibcode 1991JPet 32 811W doi 10 1093 petrology 32 4 811 ISSN 0022 3530 von Dingelstadt Franz 1838 Gedichte Fischer p 201 Franz von Dingelstedt The Mountain of Scharfenstein Retrieved 9 October 2014 List of Routes on Scharfenstein Retrieved 13 October 2014 Scharfenstein Deutscher Alpenverein Retrieved 13 October 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Scharfenstein Hesse amp oldid 1083068531, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
