UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb


The Swabian Jura is a table mountain with an up to 250 m high escarpment on the northern rim. It consists of karstified limestone, which means it has underground drainage and over 2,500 caves. There are numerous karst springs on the northern and southern border. The limestone is famous for its fossils, the most famous being the ichthyosaurs of Holzmaden. There is also interesting volcanic activity, geothermal springs and thermal baths, and a meteorite crater. There has even been mining for iron ore concretions and oolitic iron ore from the Dogger. No wonder that the Alb is not only a national, but a global geopark.