Destinations to explore - The "Natural Wonder of the Year" is the Rosselhalden
The Rosselhalden on the Moerschieder Burr in the National Park Hunsrück-Hochwald are in the running for "Natural Wonder of the Year 2024". The Heinz Sielmann Foundation and the German Hiking Association are calling on all nature enthusiasts to cast their online vote for natural phenomena and sights. Nine natural wonders, accessible along hiking trails, are on the list, as announced by the German Hiking Association in Kassel. The initiative aims to strengthen environmental awareness and protect nature.
The Moerschieder Burr is a ridge where, due to weathering processes like frost shattering during the last ice age, rock piles known as Rosselhalden were formed. Today, these rock piles serve as important retreats for endangered species like the wildcat, which finds suitable living conditions along the gnarled forests and secluded cavities. The "Kirschweiler Fortress" hiking trail passes by this sight. The other candidates for "Natural Wonder of the Year 2024" come from Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Thuringia, and the Saarland.
The Heinz Sielmann Foundation explicitly stated, "The following is added: you can also learn about the unique wildlife inhabiting these natural wonders through their educational materials and events." After voting closes, the German Hiking Association will declare, "The following is added: the winning Natural Wonder of the Year 2024 will receive increased funding and protection efforts to ensure its preservation for future generations."
