Scharfenstein, Summit in Schwalm-Eder-Kreis, Germany.
Scharfenstein is a rocky summit in the Schwalm-Eder region that rises approximately 304 meters above sea level. The distinctive basalt columns that make up the outcrop were formed when molten volcanic material cooled and solidified into these vertical geometric shapes.
The basalt formation originated during the Miocene epoch through volcanic activity that started roughly 20 million years ago and ceased approximately 7 million years ago. This lengthy period of geological activity established the foundation for the outcrop we see today.
Ludwig Emil Grimm, brother of the renowned Brothers Grimm, created watercolor paintings of Scharfenstein in 1835, documenting its original form.
The site is accessible from a parking area near Bundesautobahn 49 and sits at coordinates 51.8323016, 10.6007472. Visitors can walk up to examine the basalt columns and take in views of the surrounding landscape from the higher point.
In March 1865, severe weathering caused the original rock formation to split apart, reducing its height by roughly half. This dramatic collapse permanently changed the visible shape of the summit.
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