The best running trails around Wathlingen

I drove past for decades on my commute. On the bike, a longer look was possible, even if even more closeness is not possible.

Even though this body of water is probably something artificially created (see 'Alte Thöse'), nature has reclaimed a lot here, so a short stop to admire is worthwhile. To stay in the forest between Wathlingen and Hänigsen, there isn't much else you can do, as @Watho96 correctly mentioned in his highlight [www.komoot.com/de-de/highlight/4791781?ref=whd] about the supposedly most direct path past the spoil heap.

In any case, the better way than the L311, unless you have a racing bike under you. ...although the L311 isn't fun with it at the moment either...

This high mountain of waste is always impressive.

Nice to cycle along here.

That's what grandma always said: If the mountain is dark, it will rain, if it is light, the sun will shine 🌞

From 1910 to 1997, potash and rock salt were mined in the Lower Saxony-Riedel mine. Most of the production residue from 87 years of mining could be returned to the underground cavities. The remaining material was dumped in Wathlingen. You can see the result from afar today. The dump consists of 94 percent rock salt. Now when it rains or snows, the precipitation dissolves salt from the heap. The salted rainwater is currently collected in the edge of the heap and used to flood the underground mine workings. However, this flooding cavity can only be used to a limited extent. That is the reason why K+S is covering and renaturating this waste dump - the new formation of saline water should be significantly reduced.

The Riedel potash plant is a former potash mine near Hänigsen. It was the world's deepest mine for potash salt. The Riedel shaft was sunk between 1905 and 1908 (770 m). Funding began in 1909. In 1907/08 a mine siding railway was built from Burgdorf via Sorgensen and Weferlingsen to Hänigsen. In 1928 it was temporarily closed. In the years 1937 to 1945 the mine was part of the army ammunition production facility and underground dump, the Hänigsen Army Ammunition Facility. On June 18, 1946, the explosion accident in Hänigsen occurred here. In 1949 the shaft tube received new installations and potash production was resumed. The mine remained in operation until 1997. The production of potash was stopped in 1996 and that of rock salt in 1997. The bottom is at a depth of 1525 meters. Plans for an underground toxic waste dump were scrapped. The 650 and 750 m level probably still contains old weapons waste (detonators, grenades, combat agent Excelsior (10-chloro-9,10-dihydroacridarsin, Blaukreuz) and its precursor merodanoic acid). The rainwater from the site and the heap seepage water (around 10,000 m³/year) is led into the Thöse. The flooding of the mine is scheduled to be completed in 2028. The BUND criticizes this measure. The miners' association, founded in 1908, still exists today.