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Germany

Hesse

Sludge ponds on the Erzweg South – Grube Deutschland loop from Laubach

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

Hesse

Sludge ponds on the Erzweg South – Grube Deutschland loop from Laubach

Moderate

5.0

(4)

hikers

Sludge ponds on the Erzweg South – Grube Deutschland loop from Laubach

02:20

8.79km

90m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 14, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

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1.39 km

Vogelsberg Volcano Information Board

Highlight • Monument

With an area of around 2500 km2, the Vogelsberg is the largest volcanic area in Central Europe. About 15-19 million years ago, glowing lava streams emerged from many hundreds of vents and fissures. The characteristic rock of the Vogelsberg, the basalt, formed when the lava cooled down.

Translated by Google •

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2.07 km

Brown Iron Ore Mine Neugründende Hoffnung

Highlight • Historical Site

The Neugrünende Hoffnung pit was in operation from 1909 to 1923. Today, the demarcations of the ore deposit can only be determined with difficulty. The depth of the pit, at 6, 8 or more meters, is also no longer recognizable.
As stipulated in the contract, the pit area was first divided into mud ponds with dams made from overburden after the mining had been carried out, and after the ponds had been filled in and dried out, they were immediately stocked again.

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2.29 km

Sludge ponds on the Erzweg South

Highlight • Structure

The ore rock is not found here in compact blocks, but as a solid shell and crust-like structure, the cavities of which are filled with sometimes strongly adhering clays. This also explains the name of the ore extracted here: wash ore.
In order for the clayey parts to be able to separate from the water again, large pond basins are needed in which the sludge can settle. The clarified water flows back into the stream through an overflow. At some point the mud pond will be completely filled and a new pool will be built.

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5.03 km

Erzweg South Trailhead

Highlight • Trail

Basic information about the route.
This hiking trail aims to commemorate the history of opencast ore mining in western Vogelsberg and its forgotten testimonies. It leads through ore mines, follows former railway lines, shows special features such as mud ponds, ruins and relics and explains a piece of the history of this landscape on information boards.
Sufficient parking spaces are available.

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5.21 km

Weickartshainer Schweiz Pond and Mining Landscape

Highlight • Historical Site

What was mined here was iron ore, more precisely brown iron or basalt iron ore. Due to the described form of weathering, iron was released from the volcanic basalt rock, became mobile and formed concretions. It was deposited in the decomposed basalt in the form of crusts and ribbons. The iron ore from the Vogelsberg was usually mined together with the basalt substitute and cleaned in a complex process. The resulting sludge was usually returned to closed open-pit mines, which were thereby backfilled. An open former opencast mine like the Weickartshainer Schweiz is therefore a rarity in the region and as a geotope of outstanding value - even if it doesn't appear so at first glance.

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5.23 km

Grill Hut Weickartshainer Schweiz

Highlight • Mountain Hut

This beautiful corner is a former ore mining area. Today the pits are small ponds that lie very harmoniously in this hilly area. The name comes from the high hills all around. The grill hut is located in the middle.

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5.27 km

Grube Deutschland

Highlight • Historical Site

The pit was opened up in 1928 as one of the last pits operated by the local brown iron mines, the Louise Union. In the same year, a cable car for ore washing was built on the Seenbücke. The ore deposit was completely depleted by the time it was closed in 1940. The typical ferruginous red soils, which usually limit the opencast mines, are still clearly visible.

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8.70 km

Erzwanderweg South Trailhead Freienseen

Highlight • Trail

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8.79 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.99 km

1.17 km

441 m

109 m

Surfaces

6.02 km

1.91 km

528 m

268 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (340 m)

Lowest point (280 m)

Weather

Thursday 9 July

28°C

12°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h

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Sludge ponds on the Erzweg South – Grube Deutschland loop from Laubach

Vogelsberg Volcano Information Board

Brown Iron Ore Mine Neugründende Hoffnung

Sludge ponds on the Erzweg South

Erzweg South Trailhead

Weickartshainer Schweiz Pond and Mining Landscape

Grill Hut Weickartshainer Schweiz

Grube Deutschland

Erzwanderweg South Trailhead Freienseen

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