Eifel

Coordinates: 50°23′N 6°52′E / 50.39°N 6.87°E / 50.39; 6.87
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Eifel
Map of the Eifel
Highest point
Peak
Rhenish Slate Mountains
Geology
OrogenyVariscan
Type of rockslate, limestone, quartzite, sandstone and basalt
Eifel scenery
View of the Laacher See, one of the lakes in the Volcanic Eifel

The Eifel (German:

Luxembourgish: Äifel, pronounced [ˈæːɪfəl]) is a low mountain range in western Germany, eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the southern area of the German-speaking Community of Belgium
.

The Eifel is part of the Rhenish Massif; within its northern portions lies the Eifel National Park. The Eifelian stage in geological history is named after the region because rocks of that period reach the surface in the Eifel at the Wetteldorf Richtschnitt outcrop.

The inhabitants of the Eifel are known as Eiflers[1] or Eifelers.[2]

Geography

Location

Location of the Eifel in Germany

The Eifel lies between the cities of

Jülich-Zülpicher Börde. Within Germany it lies within the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia; in the Benelux the area of Eupen, St. Vith and Luxembourg. Its highest point is the volcanic cone of the Hohe Acht (746.9 m). Originally the Carolingian Eifelgau only covered the smaller region roughly around the sources of the rivers Ahr, Kyll, Urft and Erft
. Its name was more recently transferred to the entire region.

Topography

The Eifel belongs to that part of the Rhenish Massif whose rolling plateau is categorised as

periods and rise above the undulating countryside.

The rivers draining into the Moselle, Rhine and Meuse, such as the Our, Kyll, Ahr, Brohlbach and Rur, have cut deep into the edge of the Eifel and formed larger valleys.

The Eifel covers an area of 5,300 km² and is geographically divided into the North and South Eifel. It is further divided into several natural regional landscapes, some with further subdivisions.

National and nature parks

Since 2004, part of the

High Fens-Eifel, Volcanic Eifel, and South Eifel
, although the first extends only partly into the northern foothills of the Eifel.

Divisions

Overview

There are several distinct chains within the Eifel.

  • The northernmost parts are called North Eifel ("Nordeifel") including Rur Eifel the origin of the river Rur, High Fens ("Hohes Venn") and the Limestone Eifel (Kalkeifel).
  • The northeastern part is called Ahr Hills[3] (German: Ahrgebirge) and rise north of the Ahr river in the district of Ahrweiler.
  • South of the Ahr is the High Eifel[3] (Hohe Eifel), with the Hohe Acht (747 m) being the highest mountain of the Eifel.
  • In the west, on the Belgian border, the hills are known as Schneifel (part of the Schnee-Eifel or "Snowy Eifel"), rising up to 698 m. Also in the west, by the Belgian and Luxembourg border, the region is known as Islek (Aquilania).
  • The southern half of the Eifel is lower. It is cut by several rivers running north-south towards the Moselle. The largest of these is the
    Kyllwald
    .
  • In the south the Eifel is concluded by the Voreifel above the Moselle.

Since 2004, about 110 km² of the Eifel within the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia have been protected as the Eifel National Park nature reserve.

Natural regional divisions

Up to 1960, the German part of the Eifel, which belonged to the natural region of the Rhenish Massif, was, according to the Handbook of the Natural Region Divisions of Germany, divided into three major unit (i.e. two-digit) groups and these were subdivided into (three-digit) major natural units.[4][5] These divisions were subsequently refined in the individual map sheets Trier/Mettendorf, Cochem (both 1974) and Cologne/Aachen (1978) as follows;[6][7][8] for the most detailed natural region divisions in Rhineland-Palatinate, fact files were produced by the state information system of the conservation administration (LANDIS):[9][10][11]

  • 27 East Eifel[10]
    • 270 Moselle Eifel (Lower Eifel)[13]
      • 270.0 Eastern Moselle Eifel
      • 270.1 Lower Üßbach Valley
      • 270.2 Kondelwald
      • 270.3 Offling Plateau
      • 270.4 Middle Lieser Valley
      • 270.5 Southern Volcanic Eifel
        • 270.50 Daun-Manderscheid Volcanic Hills
        • 270.51 Dauner Maar Region
      • 270.6 Wittlich Hedge Land ( Cochem map sheet; Trier map sheet: Heckenland)
        • 270.60 Naurather Horst
        • 270.61 Arenrath Plateau
        • 270.62 Littgen Plateau
      • 270.7 Meulenwald
    • 271
      Eastern High Eifel
      • 271.0 Olbrück Eifel Perimeter
      • 271.1 Kempenich Tuff Plateau
      • 271.2/3 Central Eastern High Eifel
        • 271.2 Hohe Acht/Nitz-Nette Upland
          • 271.20 Hohe Acht Upland
          • 271.21 Nitz-Nette Forest
        • 271.3 Elzbach Heights
      • 271.4 Southwest foothills of the Eastern High Eifel
    • 272 Ahr Eifel
      • 272.0 Reifferscheid Upland
      • 272.1 Northern Ahr Upland
      • 272.2 Middle Ahr Valley
        • 272.20 Dümpelfeld Ahr Valley
        • 272.21 Recher Ahreng Valley
      • 272.3 Southern Ahr Upland
    • 274 Münster Eifel Forest and Northeastern Foot of the Eifel (Cologne map sheet; Cochem map sheet: Northeastern Eifel Perimeter; Handbook: Münster Eifel Forest)
      • 274.0
        Münstereifel
        Valley
      • 274.1 Münstereifel Forest (Flamersheim Forest)
      • 274.2 Swist Eifel Foothills (Rheinbach Forest)
      • 274.3 Königsfeld Eifel Foothills ( Cochem map sheet; Cologne map sheet and LANIS: Königsfeld Rhine-Eifel Foot)
    • 275
      Pre-Eifel
    • 276 Limestone Eifel
      • 276.0 Sötenich Limestone Basin
      • 276.1 Blankenheim and Zingsheim Forest[15]
        • 276.10 Zingsheim Forest
        • 276.11 Blankenheim Forest
      • 276.2 Blankenheim Limestone Ridge
      • 276.3 Eichholz Ridge
      • 276.4 Rohr Limestone Basin
      • 276.5 Dollendorf Limestone Basin
      • 276.6 Senkenbusch
      • 276.7
        Ahrdorf
        -Hillesheim Limestone Basin
        • 276.70 Ahrdorf Limestone Basin
        • 276.71 Hillesheim Limestone Basin
      • 276.8 Northern Volcanic Eifel
      • 276.9 Southern Limestone Basin
        • 276.90 Gerolstein Limestone Basin
        • 276.91
          Prüm Limestone Basin
    • 277 Kyllburg Waldeifel
      • 277.0 Neidenbach Sandstone Plateau
      • 277.1 Middle Kyll Valley
      • 277.2 Kyllburg Forest Ridge
        • 277.20 Prümscheid
        • 277.21 Wittlich Forest
      • 277.3 Salm Hills

The

BfN
groups the 3 (two-digit) major unit groups under the combined group designated D45.

Mountains and hills

View from the Raßberg of the striking dome of the Hohe Acht
View of the Ernstberg from the Mäuseberg to the SE
Nürburg
from the air
The Aremberg and the village of Aremberg seen from the SSE
The Hochsimmer from the ENE
View from Houverath looking S to the Hochthürmerberg
View over the Moselle and past the village of Dorf Bremm to the Calmont

Apart from its valleys, the Eifel is a gently rolling plateau from which elongated mountain ridges and individual mountains rise. The majority of these summits do not attain a great height above the surrounding terrain. Several, however, like the Schwarzer Mann in the Schnee-Eifel, stand out from a long way off as long, forested ridges or clearly isolated mountaintops.

The highest mountain in the whole Eifel is the Hohe Acht at 746.9 m. It is the only Eifel summit above 700 m. However, many peaks, mountain ridges and large regions, such as the Zitterwald reach heights of over 600 m. These include two dozen peaks with good all-round views, of which many have an observation tower. From north to south they are: the Michelsberg, Häuschen and Teufelsley in the north; the Adert, Hohe Acht and Raßberg in the northeast; the Hochkel, Nerotherkopf, Dietzenley and ruins of the Kasselburg in the central area; the Prümer Kalvarienberg, Hartkopf and Prümer Kopf in the east, the Steineberg and Mäuseberg near Daun, the Hochsimmer and Scheidkopf near Mayen; the Eickelslay and Absberg in the southeast; and the Krautscheid and Hohe Kuppe in the southwest.

The mountains and hills of the Eifel include the following (in order of height in metres above sea level):

Mountain/hill Height
(m)
Lowest level
natural region
No.
(natural region)
Natural region
major unit
Hohe Acht 746.9 Hohe Acht Upland 271.20
Eastern High Eifel
Ernstberg (Erresberg) 699.8 Prümscheid 277.20 Kyllburger Waldeifel
unnamed summit[16]


(near Schwarzer Mann)

699.1 Schneifelrücken 281.00
Western High Eifel
Schwarzer Mann 697.8 Schneifel Ridge 281.00 Western High Eifel
Botrange
694.24 Venn Plateau 283.00 High Fens (Belgium)
Scharteberg 691.4 Prümscheid 277.20 Kyllburger Waldeifel
Weißer Stein 690 Monschau-Hellenthal Forest Plateau 282.40 Rur Eifel
Prümscheid
682 Prümscheid 277.20 Kyllburger Waldeifel
Castle hill of the
Nürburg
676.5 Hohe Acht Upland 271.20 Eastern High Eifel
Hochkelberg 674.9 Trierbach-Lieser Spring Upland 271.40 Eastern High Eifel
Raßberg 663.8 Hohe Acht Upland 271.20 Eastern High Eifel
Steling 658.3 Venn Plateau 283.00 High Fens (Belgium)
Döhmberg 653.2 Dockweil Volcanic Eifel 276.81 Limestone Eifel[17]
Nerother Kopf 651.7 Daun-Manderscheid Volcanoes 270.50 Moselle Eifel
unnamed summit[16]
(near Gondelsheim)
651.3[18] Duppach Ridge 281.40 Western High Eifel
Radersberg 637 Dockweil Volcanic Eifel 276.81 Limestone Eifel[19]
Apert 631.3 Kyll Volcanic Eifel 276.80 Limestone Eifel
Aremberg 623.8 Kempenich Tuff Plateau 271.10 Eastern High Eifel
unnamed summit[16]
(near Schöneseiffen)
622.7 Dreiborn Plateau 282.50 Rur Eifel
Dietzenley 617.6 Prümscheid 277.20 Kyllburger Waldeifel[20]
Asseberg 601.5 Prümscheid 277.20 Kyllburger Waldeifel
Hardtkopf 601.5 Southern Schneifel Foreland 280.40 Islek and Ösling[21]
Alterfaß/Alter Voß 589.9 Dockweil Volcanic Eifel 276.81 Limestone Eifel[22]
Heidenköpfe
595 Eichholz Ridge 276.30 Limestone Eifel
Hochsimmer 587.9 Nitz-Nette Forest 271.21 Eastern High Eifel
Michelsberg 586.1 Northern Ahr Hills 272.10 Ahr Eifel[23]
Langschoß 583.5 Lammersdorf Venn Plateau 283.00 High Fens
Gänsehals
575.3 Kempenich Tuff Plateau 271.10 Eastern High Eifel
Eigart 565.5 Dreiborn Plateau 282.50 Rur Eifel
Hochstein 563.0 Ettringer Vulkankuppen 292.01
Lower Middle Rhine region
Mäuseberg 561.2 Daun Maar Region 270.51 Moselle Eifel[24]
Stromberg 558.2 Eichholz Ridge 276.30 Limestone Eifel
Rockeskyller Kopf 554.6 Dockweil Volcanic Eifel 276.81 Limestone Eifel
Hoher List 549.1 Daun Maar Region 270.51 Moselle Eifel
Roßbüsch 538.6[25] Kyll Volcanic Eifel 276.80 Limestone Eifel
Knippberg 537.3 Münstereifel Forest 274.10 Münstereifel Forest and Northeastern Foot of the Eifel
Kuhdorn 532.1[26] Kyll Volcanic Eifel 276.80 Limestone Eifel[27]
Burberg 528.5 Salm Hill Country 277.30 Kyllburger Waldeifel
unnamed summit[16]
(near Wolfgarten)
527.8 Kermeter Forest 282.80 Rur Eifel
Wildbretshügel 525.3 Kermeter Forest 282.80 Rur Eifel
Kalvarienberg
522.8 Dollendorfer Kalkmulde 276.50 Limestone Eifel
Verbrannter Berg
516.2 Kermeter Forest 282.80 Rur Eifel
Kopnück near Kop Nück 514.4 Northern Ahr Hills 272.10 Ahr Eifel[28]
Rother Hecke 510.5[29] Kyll Volcanic Eifel 276.80 Limestone Eifel
Häuschen 506.5 Southern Ahr Hills 272.30 Ahr Eifel
Hochthürmen 499.9 Northern Ahr Hills 272.10 Ahr Eifel
Teufelsley 495.9 Southern Ahr Hills 272.30 Ahr Eifel
Krufter Ofen 463.1 Laacher Kuppenland 292.00 Lower Middle Rhine region
Kellerberg
448.8 Naurather Horst 270.60 Moselle Eifel[30]
Herkelstein 434.5 Mechernich Upland and Hill Country 275.20 Mechernich Voreifel[31]
unnamed summit[16]
(near Osann-Monzel)
434.1 Moselle Hills 250.20 Moselle Valley
Stockert 433.9 Mechernich Upland and Hill Country 275.20 Mechernich Voreifel[32]
Veitskopf 428.1 Laacher Kuppenland 292.00 Lower Middle Rhine region
Monzeler Hüttenkopf 423.4 Moselle Hills 250.20 Moselle Valley
Burgberg
400.8 Hürtgen Plateau 282.10 Rur Eifel
Thelenberg 400.2 Laacher Kuppenland 292.00 Lower Middle Rhine region
Sonnenberg 393.3 Kermeter Forest 282.80 Rur Eifel[33]
Calmont 378.4 Gevenich Plateau 270.02 Moselle Eifel
Bausenberg 339.8 Königsfelder Eifelrand 274.30 Münstereifel Forest and Northeastern Foot of the Eifel
Landskrone 271.7 Oberwinter Terraces and Hills 292.23 Lower Middle Rhine region

For a list of these and other Eifel mountains and hills see the List of mountains and hills of the Eifel.

Many of these prominent points are linked by the Eifel-Ardennes Green Route, which crosses the east and south of the region, the German Volcano Route, the German Wildlife Route and the South Eifel Holiday Route.

Water bodies

The Prüm
Upper basin of the Rur Reservoir between Einruhr and Rurberg

Due to its moist and mild Atlantic climate, the Eifel is bisected by numerous streams and small rivers. Impoundment of these streams, especially in the North Eifel has led to the creation of very large

Urftsee
.

A feature of the Eifel are its natural lakes of volcanic origin. The largest, the

caldera, whilst the many maars are water-filled volcanic eruption bowls. The largest maar lake is the Pulvermaar. The Meerfelder Maar
has an even bigger basin, but three-quarters of it has silted up.

Rivers and streams

The many rivers and streams of the Eifel drain into the North Sea via the great rivers outside of the Eifel: the Rhine (and its tributary, the Moselle) and the Meuse (with its tributaries, the Rur and Ourthe). The rivers and streams within the mountain range, together with their larger tributaries, are as follows:

Rhine tributaries:

Meuse tributaries:

Lakes and reservoirs

Reservoirs of the Eifel that drain into the Rur

Reservoirs

Volcanic lakes

Geology

Despite the interesting geology of the Eifel region, only three comprehensive geological accounts have been produced.[34] In 1822, Johann Steiniger published the first geological map of the area and, in 1853, the Geognostische Beschreibung der Eifel.[35] In 1915 Otto Follmann published a new account, adding to the extent of scientific understanding at that time, the Abriss der Geologie der Eifel ("Abstract of the geology of the Eifel region".[34][36] In 1986, Wilhelm Meyer finally published the volume, Geologie der Eifel ("Geology of the Eifel"), whose fourth, revised, edition is now regarded as the standard work on the geology of the Eifel.[34][37]

The Eifel and its western continuation into Belgium, the

Hohes Venn) are the oldest layers of rock, which originate from the Cambrian and are around 550 million years old. The Eifel is one of the few volcanically active areas of Germany, as is evinced by numerous discharges of carbonic acid, for example into the Laacher See. The last eruptions, which gave rise to the most recent maars
, occurred about 11,000  years ago.

argillaceous slate
of the Siegen stage (deep Lower Devonian, between 410 and 405 million years old), near Monschau in the northern Eifel
The Richelsley, an erosion remnant of conglomerates of the Gedinne stage (deepest Lower Devonian, ca. 415 million years old), west of Monschau in the Belgian Eifel

Basement

The

Old Red Continent[38] and folded and overthrust in the Variscan orogeny. Only on the northern edge of the Eifel, in the High Fens and its environs, do older rocks from the Cambrian and Ordovician outcrop. Rocks of the Carboniferous

do not occur in the Eifel itself, but lie along its northern boundary in the region of Aachen.

The Devonian rocks were deposited in an

Lower Carboniferous the sea basin was caught up in the Variscan mountain building process, pushed together and uplifted, and thus formed part of the Variscan mountain system that, in the Upper Carboniferous and early Permian
, covered large areas of Europe.

The Eifel geological structures like main folds and overthrusts can be traced in a SW-NE direction far beyond the Rhine valley.

Platform

Since that folding, the Eifel has largely remained part of the mainland. During the Permian, after the end of the uplifting, the Variscan mountains were heavily eroded, leaving only a relatively flat, truncated upland. For a short time, and only partially, this was later flooded by the sea.

Depositions from the

Hillesheim and Oberbettingen
.

In the Upper Cretaceous and during the Tertiary, the Eifel was inundated mainly from the north. Remains of Cretaceous rocks were discovered on the High Fens. Scattered patches of Oligocene deposits can be found there and in the Western Eifel.

From the Pliocene onwards, the Rhenish Massif, including the Eifel, experienced an uplift. This led to the streams and rivers cutting into the gently rolling landscape resulting in the present appearance of the low mountain range with its flat plateaus and deeply incised valleys.

Due to numerous recent research projects, climate changes since the

last ice age can be traced in detail in the Eifel region.[39]

Volcanism

The Laacher See in winter seen from the southwestern shore
The Weinfelder Maar

Volcanic activity in the Eifel began 50 millions of years ago and continues into the geological present. It created numerous volcanic structures, lava flows and extensive layers of volcanic ejecta made of tuff and pumice, which have formed the basis of a significant mining activity for the extraction of building materials since Roman times. Some of the hills are volcanic vents. The peculiar circle-shaped lakes (maars) of the volcanic regions formed in volcanic craters.

The first volcanic eruptions took place in the early Tertiary centred in the High Eifel and even before the volcanic activity of the Siebengebirge and Westerwald. Volcanism in the High Eifel came to an end about 15 to 20 million years ago, at the same time as that of the Siebengebirge.

Volcanism in the western and eastern Eifel is, in contrast to that of the High Eifel, much more recent than that of the Siebengebirge and Westerwald. It began in the West Eifel region of Daun, Hillesheim and Gerolstein about 700,000 years ago and created a chain of ash volcanoes, cinder cones, maars and craters running in a chain from northwest to southeast. The youngest maars are only slightly older than 11,000  years.

In the eastern Eifel, volcanism began about 500,000 years ago in the area of today's Laacher See; it extended to the Neuwied Basin to the south, and crossed the Rhine to the east. The quantity of

caldera. Today's Laacher See formed in the caldera. The ashes from the eruption can be detected today in deposits all over Central Europe and as far as Bornholm as a thin layer.[40]

Volcanism is caused by magma, which either rises directly to the Earth's surface from the upper regions of the Earth's mantle or, in the majority of cases, gathers in a magma chamber, several tens of kilometres deep, at the base of the Earth's crust, from which magma rises at irregular intervals and causes volcanic eruptions.[41] Volcanism in the Eifel is thought to be partly caused by the Eifel hotspot, a place where hot material from deep in the mantle rises to the surface, and partly by melt-ascent at deep fractures in the Earth's crust.[42] Research has shown that the volcanism is still active; the Eifel region is rising by 1–2 mm per year and there are escaping gases, for example, carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Laacher See.

Climate

The Eifel is in the Atlantic climate zone with its relatively high precipitation; winters that are moderately cold and long with periods of snow; and summers that are often humid and cool. The prevailing wind is west/southwest. A relatively dry and milder climate prevails in the wind and rain shadow of the High Eifel. Cold air from Siberia in the higher elevations of the Eifel has less of an impact on weather conditions, as the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean to the Eifel brings milder sea air to the Eifel even in winter.

Looking at the long-term averages, even the

Snow Eifel only has snow cover for nine consecutive days in winter, as there are no longer lasting cold spells. However, there is an average of 70 days of full snow cover because the frequency of snow at higher elevations is relatively high (for comparison: Bitburg 35  days, Maifeld 30  days), but the level of snowfall varies from year to year. Snow heights vary on average between 15 cm and 60 cm. The humid Atlantic climate can cause extreme variations though: on 2 March 1987 there was 227 centimetres of snow in the Eifel on the Weißer Stein
.

The mean temperature in the coldest month (January) is -1.5 °C at high elevations, +1.5 to 2 °C in the mountain foreland. There is an average of 110 days of frost, with temperatures below 0 °C in the highlands and an average of 30 to 40 'ice days' when temperatures do not rise above 0 °C. The warmest month (July) only has an average temperature of 14 °C in the higher areas. The level of precipitation decreases significantly from west to east as a result of the rain shadow of the highlands. So the Schneifel receives an average of 1,200 mm of precipitation (High Fens: 1,400 mm to 1,500 mm), while in Maifeld the average rainfall is only 600 mm.

The bioclimatic conditions in the Eifel are favourable. Heat stress and air humidity are rarely present in summer. The Eifel has a distinctly stimulating climate; the high elevations being considered as highly stimulating. The Eifel is a clean air area with very low air-chemical pollution. On hot sunny days, there is sometimes an increased concentration of ground-level ozone.

Here are a couple of weather station examples for settlements in the Eifel.

Climate data for Nürburg, 485 m asl (1981–2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.5
(56.3)
15.6
(60.1)
20.7
(69.3)
25.8
(78.4)
30.4
(86.7)
33.3
(91.9)
34.9
(94.8)
36.0
(96.8)
30.2
(86.4)
25.2
(77.4)
18.8
(65.8)
12.6
(54.7)
36.0
(96.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.6
(36.7)
4.3
(39.7)
7.7
(45.9)
12.3
(54.1)
16.4
(61.5)
19.7
(67.5)
21.6
(70.9)
21.4
(70.5)
17.0
(62.6)
12.5
(54.5)
6.6
(43.9)
2.8
(37.0)
12.2
(54.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.3
(32.5)
1.6
(34.9)
4.2
(39.6)
8.0
(46.4)
11.9
(53.4)
15.0
(59.0)
16.9
(62.4)
16.6
(61.9)
13.0
(55.4)
9.2
(48.6)
4.3
(39.7)
0.6
(33.1)
8.6
(47.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −2.1
(28.2)
−1.2
(29.8)
0.7
(33.3)
3.6
(38.5)
7.4
(45.3)
10.1
(50.2)
12.2
(54.0)
11.9
(53.4)
9.0
(48.2)
5.9
(42.6)
2.0
(35.6)
−1.6
(29.1)
4.9
(40.8)
Record low °C (°F) −18.6
(−1.5)
−17.4
(0.7)
−12.4
(9.7)
−6.4
(20.5)
−1.0
(30.2)
2.1
(35.8)
5.0
(41.0)
3.6
(38.5)
1.1
(34.0)
−5.3
(22.5)
−10.8
(12.6)
−18.1
(−0.6)
−18.6
(−1.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 48.0
(1.89)
51.2
(2.02)
50.6
(1.99)
47.4
(1.87)
60.6
(2.39)
53.8
(2.12)
68.9
(2.71)
77.7
(3.06)
57.0
(2.24)
54.1
(2.13)
57.5
(2.26)
51.5
(2.03)
678.3
(26.71)
Average precipitation days 9.5 10.6 10.9 9.4 9.9 9.8 11.4 9.5 9.6 10.5 12.0 10.8 123.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 56.7 72.1 116.6 166.9 187.0 205.3 204.4 193.3 147.1 105.7 46.5 43.0 1,544.6
Source: Météo Climat [43][44]
Climate data for Eupen (1981–2010 normals, sunshine 1984–2013)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 3.3
(37.9)
4.4
(39.9)
8.2
(46.8)
12.2
(54.0)
16.3
(61.3)
19.1
(66.4)
21.3
(70.3)
21.0
(69.8)
17.4
(63.3)
12.9
(55.2)
7.2
(45.0)
4.0
(39.2)
12.4
(54.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.8
(33.4)
1.1
(34.0)
4.3
(39.7)
7.4
(45.3)
11.6
(52.9)
14.3
(57.7)
16.5
(61.7)
16.2
(61.2)
12.9
(55.2)
9.2
(48.6)
4.6
(40.3)
1.6
(34.9)
8.4
(47.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.8
(28.8)
−1.9
(28.6)
0.7
(33.3)
2.8
(37.0)
6.8
(44.2)
9.5
(49.1)
11.7
(53.1)
11.2
(52.2)
8.6
(47.5)
5.8
(42.4)
2.0
(35.6)
−0.8
(30.6)
4.6
(40.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 115.0
(4.53)
101.9
(4.01)
106.6
(4.20)
81.5
(3.21)
97.2
(3.83)
101.6
(4.00)
106.7
(4.20)
106.0
(4.17)
105.8
(4.17)
99.3
(3.91)
105.1
(4.14)
120.7
(4.75)
1,247.3
(49.11)
Average precipitation days 15.0 13.3 15.1 12.5 13.2 13.0 13.3 12.5 12.6 12.8 14.8 15.7 163.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 49 72 111 155 183 175 191 182 130 104 52 37 1,440
Source: Royal Meteorological Institute[45]

History

Map of the Eifel (Eyfalia) and adjacent lands in the year 1628; north is downwards

Etymology

Usage in the course of history

At the time of the

Frankish Empire emerged in the territories of present-day France and western Germany. This was divided into gaue (Lat.: pagi). One of them, the Eifelgau, covered the source regions of the rivers Erft, Urft, Kyll and Ahr, i.e. predominantly the northern and northwestern foothills of the present Eifel in the eastern half of the Arduenna silva of the Romans.[47] West of the Eifelgau lay the Ardennengau
, whose name was derived from Arduenna silva.

Following the end of the Frankish Empire the name of the old gaue continued to be used in popular language. Over the centuries an ever-larger region was referred to as the Eifel. Today the whole German-speaking part of the range between the Rhine, Meuse and Moselle is called the Eifel (including several areas outside of Germany, see the → Belgian Eifel), while the French-speaking part in Belgium and France is called the Ardennes.

Earliest surviving records

762 Eifflensis pagus, 772 Eiffelnsis pagus, 804 in pago aquilinse, 838 Eifla, 845 Eiflensis pagus, 855 Eiflinsis pagus, 860–886 Agflinse, 975 Aiflensis pagus, 1051 Eiffila, 1105 Eifla, 1121 Eifla

Meaning

Müller/Schnetz (1937) believe that an -n- has dropped out between the diphthong and the syllable, -fel. The resulting root form Anfil or Anfali would then mean an "area that is not so level". An- would then be a prefix and -fali, which is related to the Slavic polje ("field"), means "plain" or "heath".

W. Kaspers (1938) deduces from the surviving form in pago aquilinse the root form aku-ella, akwella and points to its development into the name "Eifel" in the following sequence: aquila > agfla > aifla > eifla > Eifel. Akuella derives from the pre-German and means "land with summits" or "land with peaks".

Both propositions, like several others, are highly contentious. The most convincing proposal is that of Heinrich Dittmaier (1961).[48] Dittmaier initially derives it from the Germanic Ai-fil. The second component corresponds to Ville, which is the name of a ridge between the Erft, Swist and Rhine today. The variants Vele, Vile and Viele may often be found in place names such as Veler Weg or Veler Pfad. Unlike the modern word Ville the fricative consonant is hard in "Eifel". Responsible for that was probably a sound between ai- and -fil, which was assimilated by the f, possibly f, k, ch, d, t. Dittmaier believes the missing sound was a k or ch, whereby "Eifel" originally went back to Aik-fil. Aik/Aich is also a name for oak (Eiche) and qualifies the root word ville. On the basis that it was covered by oak trees, the Eifel (= Eich-Ville) could thus be distinguished from the other Ville, a name still used today, on the Erft. However, the original, historical and even current vegetation of the present day Ville is dominated by oak mixed forest.

The meaning of "Ville" is also disputed. Dittmaier gives three possible explanations: "marshy region", "plain, heath" and "heathland", which would all bring geology and vegetation into harmony.

Another proposal sees the name as even older and possibly of Celtic origin. Near Cologne, an altar was found, which was dedicated to Matronae Aufaniae Celtic goddesses which were honoured by flowing water. The thesis that the name "Eifel" was derived from this source is not conclusive, but it is persuasive; Eifel would then mean "land of water" or "watery mountains".[49]

Settlement history

Ivory artifacts from the Magdalena Cave

By the

modern humans. This is evinced by the Buchenloch and Magdalena Caves near Gerolstein
. The artifacts from the Magdalena Cave also show that the Eifel was visited by humans even during the height of the last ice age.

Excavations show that iron was already being worked by the

, which crossed the Eifel.

In the late Middle Ages, the Eifel was a border area between the Archbishoprics of

.

The mining and smelting works, with their demand for

shipbuilding industry which was widespread until the 19th century, led to an almost complete deforestation of the woods. In fact, around 1800, the Eifel must be imagined as a landscape of meadows and heathland, where animals, especially flocks of sheep, grazed. At the same time, the population was becoming increasingly impoverished because the poor arable land did not yield rich harvests. Even after the decline of mining and smelting operations after the mid-19th century, the situation of the population did not improve. In addition, the Eifel was a marching route for French troops to all kinds of theatres of war. They demanded "forage money" from the local population, which just caused further impoverishment, as the records of Kottenheim
show.

Prussian rule began in 1815, but little changed in terms of social conditions: The Eifel, as a poor peripheral region of the empire ("Prussian Siberia"), was only of interest for military reasons. For Prussian officials and officers, mainly Protestants, a posting to the purely Catholic Eifel region was like a punishment sentence. However, the landscape changed as Prussia carried out systematic reforestation, albeit with coniferous trees that were not typical of the region.

In the 19th century, the Eifel region suffered severe famines, especially in the years 1816/17, 1847 and 1879/80, and an 1853 memorandum records that "Many Eifel inhabitants know no food other than potatoes and bread that consists of a mixture of oatmeal and potato. It can be said without exaggeration that two thirds of the entire population only enjoy meat once a year." The consequences of the terrible food situation were only too obvious: "In 1852, only 10% of all those liable to enlistment were fit for military service.".“[50]

Due to its barren soils and the harsh climate, which led time and again to poor harvests, many farmers were in debt. According to reports of the winter of starvation in 1879/80, however, there was a wave of solidarity in the

land improvement, for the afforestation of barren land and for land consolidation..[50]

Siegfried Line anti-tank barriers in the Eifel

For a long time, economic development was hampered by the poor condition of roads and tracks. However, due to its border location between the German Empire, Belgium and Luxembourg (as march routes to France), many

military-strategic purposes. This improvement of the transport routes also boosted tourism. The construction of the Nürburgring
also served the purpose of economic development in the 1920s.

The border region of the Eifel was also not spared by the

Battle of the Hürtgen Forest
, where the battle with the highest losses was fought in the west, military cemeteries - such as in Vossenack - bear witness to the brutal events of the war.

The Eifel region was severely hit in the 2021 European floods.

Economy

Much of the Eifel has limited infrastructure and there are almost no large industrial areas. Only in the

Pre-Eifel and the Maifeld). A large number of farms have been converted into stabling facilities, some of which offer overnight accommodation and horse care for trail riders
.

Wine-growing is a major activity along the Rhine, Moselle and Ahr valleys and in the

Wittlich Basin. In the Wittlich Basin, tobacco is also grown. At Holsthum in the Prüm valley, in the lee of the Ferschweiler Plateau, hops are grown for the Bitburger Brewery
. However, at high altitudes in the Eifel, only forestry and dairy farming are generally possible.

Mining is still carried out in the Eifel region. In

Sauer near the border with Luxembourg. In the South Eifel, especially in the Wehrer Bowl, volcanic carbonic acid
is extracted.

In many places in the Eifel region, the mining of pumice, basalt and other rocks and minerals has a long tradition. For example, between Daun, Gerolstein and Hillesheim - i.e. in the heart of the Volcanic Eifel - there are 17 active pits over an area of 11 by12 kilometres. Residents and local authorities affected by the planned expansion (as of July 2012) have practically no influence over it because it is based on the old mining law.[51]

There is evidence that

Roman roads such as the Roman road from Trier to Cologne
, which crossed the Eifel.

The abundance of

timber, which was needed for smelting, and of watercourses, which were indispensable for the preparation and operation of hammer mills and bellows, made it possible for the Eifel to be an important supra-regional economic area even in the late Middle Ages. About 10% of the iron produced in Europe originated from the Eifel. It was traded at the markets in Trier and Cologne.[53]

Well known are the many

Bitburger, has its headquarters and production facilities in Bitburg
in the Eifel.

The economic importance of

holiday routes. Hiking tourism is also of considerable economic importance, as is reflected in the increasing number of overnight stays for hiking guests and the progressive expansion of the network of trails. In addition to the Eifelsteig trail, which was opened in 2009 and runs from Aachen to Trier across the Eifel, there is a wide network of themed and circular walks.[54][55]

Culture

Literature

As a traditionally isolated land, in which the population kept a quiet and simple way of life, the Eifel offered fertile soil for lively folk poetry. The sagas, legends and fairy tales, which were told on long winter evenings in the farmhouse parlours, often reflect a longing for a better world, which stood in contrast to the found reality of life. The Eifel also repeatedly offered material for numerous literary and regional studies works - from the Eifel and about the Eifel.[56]

Folk literature

Eifel

werewolves
, which - like those in the neighbouring Ardennes region - survived into the 20th century.

Folk poetry of the Eifel was collected early on. Inspired by

Friedrich Schlegel
rank amongst the early Eifel authors.

During the 1920s scientific interest in folk culture also gave impetus to the collection of folk poetry. The most prominent collector was Bonn professor of folklore, Matthias Zender, who was born in Zendscheid and who, as a student between 1929 and 1936, collected about 10,000 stories, folk tales and jokes from the Eifel/Ardennes region, of which 2,000 were published.

Scary stories from the Eifel region were collected and partly published by headmaster, Heinrich Hoffmann, from Düren in 1900 and also by Zender in the 1930s. Peter Kremer published a collection of such stories with a commentary in 2003 in a Düren publication.[57]

Authors and works

Well-known historical works of the Eifel are the Eiflia illustrata oder geographische und historische Beschreibung der Eifel by Johann Friedrich Schannat, published in the 17th century, translated, supplemented and re-edited in 1824 by Georg Bärsch; and the Eiflia sacra, also edited by Schannat and re-edited in 1888 by Carl Schorn.

The first recognised Eifel poet was Peter Zirbes, a wandering

Theo Breuer, Ursula Krechel and Norbert Scheuer. Jochen Arlt's poem Einkaufn gehen in Münstereifel may be read in the most important German poetry collection, The Great Conrady
. The book of German poems. From its Beginnings to the Present.

One great narrator and native of

Second World War and depicts the positional war during the Ardennes offensive and the tragic combination of people and their fates in epic breadth. The author, Heinz Küpper, who died in 2005 and whose novels included Wohin mit dem Kopf and Zweikampf mit Rotwild, Norbert Scheuer from Kall and Ute Bales from Gerolstein
are today the most important representatives of the Eifel in the field of contemporary, German-language prose. In their works, they present the Eifel, both physically and symbolically, as a rugged landscape, which becomes a reflection of spiritual landscapes. Particularly interesting here (in comparison to the perspective of the more down-to-earth narrator) is the Eifel's literary composition from the point of view of the outsider.

This literature challenges us to confront the region and its people, especially where there is no attempt to romanticize the Eifel, but where hopelessness and despair in the face of poverty and misery, intellectual narrowness or rigid systems of values become apparent. Although Norbert Scheuer was born in the Eifel, the narrators of his novels and stories take the perspective of the distanced or the outsider. Norbert Scheuer has succeeded in presenting life in the Eifel in a multifaceted way and making it interesting for readers in the entire German-speaking area, especially in his latest book Kall, Eifel (2005). In Ute Bales' novels, landscape and people are inseparably connected. The characteristic of the Eifel landscape and its inhabitants is the starting point of a narrative style that shows people as "lonely, lost, in a misunderstood place" in and with their suffering, as in the novel Kamillenblumen (2010) about the peddler, Traud, from Kolverath.

Eifel crime novels

One literary genre that has been flourishing in many regions and cities in Germany over the last few decades is the

Hillesheim
there is an Eifel crime novel hiking trail that links the scenes of novels by Jacques Berndorf and Ralf Kramp. The crime novel house in Hillesheim houses the largest collection of detective novels in the German-speaking world with a stock of 30,000 books, and there is also a "crime café" in the house.

Fine arts

The Eifel was a destination for German impressionists, among them Eugen Bracht, who painted there with colleagues, and August von Brandis, who often spent several days there with architecture students from Aachen in order to give them an understanding of landscape painting. Two of Bracht's paintings are preserved at the castles of Manderscheid.

Towns and cities

Bruch in the South Eifel

Castles

Lissingen Castle
Eltz Castle
Manderscheid castles

Well preserved

19th- and 20th-century rebuilds

Ruins

Transport

The Eifel Line (near the station of Speicher)

Through the Eifel run the following transport routes:

  • the Ahr Valley Railway from Remagen to Ahrbrück
  • the Eifel Line from Cologne via Euskirchen, Kall and Gerolstein to Trier and several branch lines. Most of the branch lines have however since been closed and some have been lifted.
  • the Erft Valley Railway from Euskirchen to Bad Münstereifel with its connexion to the Voreifel Railway from Euskirchen to Bonn
  • the
    Trans-Eifel Railway
    from Andernach via Mayen, Kaisersesch and Daun to Gerolstein. The section of line from Kaisersesch to Gerolstein is only operated in spring and summer. The branching lines from Mayen via Polch to Koblenz, Polch to Münstermaifeld and Daun to Wittlich were closed and partly converted for tourist purposes (cycleways).
  • the Rur Valley Railway from Düren to Heimbach. It is additionally worked on summer weekends by the Euregio Railway on the section from Heerlen (Netherlands) via Aachen and Düren to Heimbach and is especially popular with day tourists, for whom the town of Heimbach and its associated villages are a charming destination.
  • the Brohl Valley Railway from Brohl to Engeln; privately operated narrow gauge railway.
  • the A 1 (also Eifel Motorway), A 48, A 60, A 61, A 64, A 565, A 571 and A 573 motorways.
  • numerous federal roads, e. g. the B 49, B 50, B 51, B 52, B 53, B 56, B 257, B 258, B 265, B 399, B 409, B 410, B 418, B 421 and B 477

Points of interest

See also

References

  1. ^ "Eifler". Duden. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  2. ^ "Eifeler". Duden. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  3. ^ a b Elkins, T.H. (1972). Germany (3rd ed.). London: Chatto & Windus, 1972. ASIN B0011Z9KJA.
  4. ^ E. Meynen, J. Schmithüsen et al.: Handbook of the Natural Region Divisions of Germany Bundesanstalt für Landeskunde, Remagen/Bad Godesberg, 1953–1962 (9 issued in 8 books, 1:1,000,000 scale map with major units, 1960).
  5. ^ online map of the major unit groups and list of major units
  6. ^ Ewald Glässer: Geographische Landesaufnahme: the natural regional units on map sheet 122/123 Cologne/Aachen. Bundesanstalt für Landeskunde, Bad Godesberg, 1978. → online map (pdf; 8.7 MB)
  7. ^ Heinz Fischer, Richard Graafen: Geographische Landesaufnahme: the natural regional units on map sheet 136/137 Cochem. Bundesanstalt für Landeskunde, Bad Godesberg, 1974. → online map (pdf; 5.6 MB)
  8. ^ Otmar Werle: Geographische Landesaufnahme: the natural regional units on map sheet 148/149 Trier/Mettendorf. Bundesanstalt für Landeskunde, Bad Godesberg, 1974. → online map (pdf; 4.5 MB)
  9. ^ Map service of the Landscape Information System of the Rhineland-Palatinate Nature Conservation Office (Naturschutzverwaltung Rheinland-Pfalz)
  10. ^ a b Landscape fact file (major landscape) of the Landscape Information System of the Rhineland-Palatinate Nature Conservation Office (Naturschutzverwaltung Rheinland-Pfalz) (East Eifel)
  11. ^ a b Landscape fact file (major landscape) of the Landscape Information System of the Rhineland-Palatinate Nature Conservation Office (Naturschutzverwaltung Rheinland-Pfalz) (West Eifel)
  12. ^ A boundary line between the two plateaux is not shown on either of the two map sheets, however the Hollerath Plateau lies largely on the Cochem map sheet Cochem and the Broich Plateau on the Cologne map sheet.
  13. ^ addendum from the Handbook
  14. ^ a b Between natural regions 272.0 and 272.2 on the Cologne/Aachen map sheet no boundary is shown. It probably runs from Eicks via Kommern to Firmenich.
  15. ^ In the Handbook on the Cologne map sheet the numbering of the Blankenheim and Zingsheim Forests has been reversed.
  16. ^ a b c d e Unnamed summits (sorted by height):
       699.1 m: highest point in the
    Western High Eifel; just under 1.5 km northeast of the summit of the Schwarzer Mann
       651.3 m: 1.2 km north-northeast of Gondelsheim
       622.7 m: highest point of the Dreiborn Plateau; on the territory of Schöneseiffen, in the Hollerscheid; 120 m northwest of the B 258
       527.8 m: in the Kermeter; near the southern edge of Wolfgarten
       434.1 m: in the Moselle Hills; 2.6 km west-southwest of Osann-Monzel
  17. ^ Link to the map view of Döhmberg
  18. ^ Link to the map view of namenlos 651.3
  19. ^ Link to the map view of Radersberg
  20. ^ On the Cochem map the Dietzenley is shown as a perimeter mountain of the adjacent bowl:
    276.90 Gerolsteiner Kalkmulde → Limestone Eifel
  21. ^ Southeastern edge of the:
    276.91 Prümer Kalkmulde → Limestone Eifel
  22. ^ Link to the map view of Alter Voß
  23. ^ The Michelsberg rises on northwestern perimeter of the:
    274.1 Münstereifel Forest → Münstereifel Forest and Northeastern Foot of the Eifel
  24. ^ Link to the map view of Mäuseberg
  25. ^ Link to the map view of Roßbüsch, siehe auch Naturdenkmäler
  26. ^ Link to the map view of Kuhdorn
  27. ^ In the border shown on the Cochem map, the Kuhdorn is shown as a perimeter hill of the bowl to the south:
    276.90 Gerolsteiner Kalkmulde → Limestone Eifel
  28. ^ On the Cologne and Cochem maps the Kopnick is part of the valley system to the northwest:
    274.00 Münstereifel Valley → Münstereifel Forest and Northeastern Foot of the Eifel
  29. ^ Link to the map view of Rother Hecke
  30. ^ To the southwest and not far from the Kellerberg it joins the:
    270.7 MeulenForest → Moselle Eifel
  31. ^ The Herkelstein lies orographically , because it is north of the Landesstraße 165, in the eastern part of the Mechernich Upland and Hill Country, but is shown on the Cologne map as a perimeter hill of the southeastern and neighbouring unit:
    276.00 Sötenicher Kalkmulde → Limestone Eifel
  32. ^ The Stockert is orographically analogous like its western neighbour, the Herkelstein; in that it is shown on the Cologne map as part of the next but one unit:
    274.00 Münstereifel Valley → Münstereifel Forest and Northeastern Foot of the Eifel
  33. ^ The Sonnenberg is orographically separated by the Heimbach valley from the rest of the Kermeter Forest to the south; but is shown on the Cologne map as belonging to the neighbouring valley system:
    282.33 Rurseegebiet → Rur Eifel
  34. ^ a b c Stephan Marks, Schriftenschau, "Geologie der Eifel" in Mitteilungen des Verbandes der deutschen Höhlen- und Karstforscher e. V. 2015/01 Archived 2017-07-28 at the Wayback Machine; page 24.
  35. ^ Johann Steiniger (1853) Geognostische Beschreibung der Eifel; Lintz, Trier.
  36. ^ Otto Follmann (1915) Abriss der Geologie der Eifel; Westermann.
  37. ^ Wilhelm Meyer (2013) Geologie der Eifel; 4th fully revised edition; Schweizerbart, Stuttgart; .
  38. ISBN 978-3-443-15094-5{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  39. , p. 185.
  40. ^ Wilhelm Meyer 1986, p. 308.
  41. ^ Meyer 1986, p. 275
  42. ^ "German climate normals 1981-2010" (in French). Météo Climat. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  43. ^ "Nürburg Weather Extremes" (in French). Météo Climat. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  44. ^ "Klimaatstatistieken van de Belgische gemeenten" (PDF) (in Dutch). Royal Meteorological Institute. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  45. De bello Gallico
    . 58–51 BC
  46. ^ Hermann Aubin: Geschichtlicher Atlas der Rheinlande. Cologne, 1926. No. 7.
  47. ^ Heinrich Dittmaier (1961), "Der Name "Eifel"", Rhein.-westf. Für Volkskunde 8 (in German), pp. 168–175
  48. ISBN 3-921805-17-1{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )
  49. ^ a b Hans-Dieter Arntz: Naturkatastrophen und Notstände in der Eifel.
  50. ^ For more information, see Homepage of the Interessengemeinschaft Eifelvulkane
  51. ^ Die Montangeschichte Kalls
  52. ^ Archäologietour Nordeifel 2016 - Kall-Golbach: Pingen als Relikte des Eisenerzbergbaus
  53. ^ Eifelsteig steht hoch im Kurs. In: Trierischer Volksfreund, 24 October 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  54. ^ Rundwanderwege in der Eifel. In: RP Digital, 3 September 2014. retrieved 30 September 2014.
  55. ^ Literature from the Eifel and about the Eifel at the DNB[permanent dead link]
  56. .

Further reading

External links

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