Parkstein (hill)
Encyclopedia
The Parkstein, also called the Hoher Parkstein and Basaltkegel Hoher Parkstein is a well-known local hill and tourist destination in the Steinwald
Mountains of central Germany. It lies 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northwest of Weiden in der Oberpfalz
in the district of Neustadt a.d.Waldnaab and is one of the most popular walking and daytripper destinations in North Upper Palatinate
. Around the volcanically-formed hill, which is 595 metres (1,952.1 ft) above sea level (N.N.), is the village of the same name, Parkstein
. At one time a castle (Parkstein Castle) stood on the summit.
The Parkstein is famous for its impressive basalt
outcrop. This basalt formation consists of pentagonal and hexagonal columns, up to one metre high, whose shafts extend into the earth to a depth of up to 30 metres. It is part of an old stream of lava that has been exposed at the surface after the softer rock above it had been weathered away over the course of millions of years. The wall of basalt measures 38 metres.
Alexander von Humboldt
viewed the Parkstein as the "most beautiful basalt cone in Europe".
In 2004 it was entered by the Free State of Bavaria as No. 20 on the list of the 100 "most beautiful geotopes in Bavaria".
Steinwald
The Steinwald is a mountain range up to in southern Germany and, at the same time, a nature park founded in 1970 with an area of in the province of Upper Palatinate, in North Bavaria.- Geographical location :...
Mountains of central Germany. It lies 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northwest of Weiden in der Oberpfalz
Weiden in der Oberpfalz
Weiden in der Oberpfalz is a district-free city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located 100 km east of Nuremberg and 35 km west of the Czech border. A branch of the German Army's NCO Academy is located here...
in the district of Neustadt a.d.Waldnaab and is one of the most popular walking and daytripper destinations in North Upper Palatinate
Upper Palatinate
The Upper Palatinate is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of Bavaria.- History :The region took its name first in the early 16th century, because it was by the Treaty of Pavia one of the main portions of the territory of the Wittelsbach Elector...
. Around the volcanically-formed hill, which is 595 metres (1,952.1 ft) above sea level (N.N.), is the village of the same name, Parkstein
Parkstein
Parkstein is a district in the municipality of Neustadt an der Waldnaab in Bavaria in Germany. In 2006, it counted approximately 2500 citizens within its district. The origins of its castle, built atop a conical shaped mountain, also called the Parkstein, date back to around the year 1000...
. At one time a castle (Parkstein Castle) stood on the summit.
The Parkstein is famous for its impressive basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
outcrop. This basalt formation consists of pentagonal and hexagonal columns, up to one metre high, whose shafts extend into the earth to a depth of up to 30 metres. It is part of an old stream of lava that has been exposed at the surface after the softer rock above it had been weathered away over the course of millions of years. The wall of basalt measures 38 metres.
Alexander von Humboldt
Alexander von Humboldt
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer, and the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt...
viewed the Parkstein as the "most beautiful basalt cone in Europe".
In 2004 it was entered by the Free State of Bavaria as No. 20 on the list of the 100 "most beautiful geotopes in Bavaria".