In the Salzgitter mountain range and in the Lichtenberge mountains, visitors can learn interesting facts about the history of the earth on Geopfads and in Gebhardshagen on the rock nature trail. Background information can be found in the museum of the city of Salzgitter, Salder Castle, which has been the information center of the national geopark "Harz. Braunschweiger Land. Ostfalen" since 2007.
The Geopfads provide insights into the nature of Salzgitter and the history of the earth's development. Traces of life in the deposited rock formations show what the region looked like millions of years ago. Information boards and maps tell hikers which animal and plant species existed in Salzgitter and what climatic conditions prevailed. The trails are also an experience for the senses, as they lead through a large wooded area, offering the hiker surprising views over the Harz foreland time and again.
Geopfad Salzgitter-Bad (Salzgitter Höhenzug)
The Geopfad Salzgitter-Bad (Salzgitter Höhenzug) is a circular hiking trail that leads around 6.5 kilometers through the beech forests of the Salzgitter Höhenzug landscape conservation area. From the limestones of the Muschelkalk to the deposits of the Cretaceous period, the trail covers a time span of more than 150 million years. After all this time, the rocks still contain traces of the life forms of that time, which provide information about the living conditions and the climate that prevailed at the time. The salt and iron ore, the mining of which provided work and prosperity in Salzgitter, were also deposited in this area millions of years ago as the legacy of the seas.
Geopfad Salzgitter-Lichtenberg
The Lichtenberg Geopfad circular hiking trail is around 8 kilometers long. After more than 200 million years, the deposits of the Muschelkalk period still contain traces of the life forms of that time. The most common finds are remains of crinoids, ammonites and shells.
Gebhardshagen rock nature trail
If you don't want to go hiking to expand your geological knowledge, the Gebhardshagen rock nature trail in the park between Gustedter Straße and Am Berg Straße is the place to go. The trail, which is set up like an open-air exhibition, provides information about various rocks from northern Germany
The rocks on display are arranged in three groups according to their origin: From number 1 to 5, so-called Scandinavian boulders from the Ice Age are arranged. These are the oldest rocks on display, they originate from the Scandinavian basement and were pushed to Salzgitter by the glaciers of the Ice Age. Stones numbers 6 to 13 are rocks that occur in the Harz Mountains. These are sedimentary and igneous rocks of the Harz. Rocks numbers 14 to 19 occur in the Salzgitter area. Here you can see sedimentary rocks, mainly from the Mesozoic Era, which were also mined in quarries in the Salzgitter area in earlier times and used as building material.
Salder Castle Geopark Information Center
The Salder Castle Municipal Museum has been the information center of the national geopark "Harz. Braunschweiger Land. Eastphalia". It participates in this geopark with various departments. For example, the ichthyosaur Platypterygius hercynicus found near Gitter can be seen in the geology department. Another highlight are the finds of the Ice Age hunter's camp from Krähenriede, which can be admired both in the museum and in the castle's Eiszeitgarten. Plants that existed in this region 50,000 years ago have been planted in this outdoor area to give a vivid picture of the living conditions at that time.
Further information on the Geopfad and the rock nature trail can be found on the Salzgitter website www.salzgitter.de or at the Salder Castle Municipal Museum at kulturstadt.salzgitterde or by calling 05341 / 839-4618.