Zwerfsteneneiland, Geological monument in Utrechtse Heuvelrug, Netherlands
Zwerfsteneneiland is a geological monument featuring around 750 erratic stones arranged in a compass rose pattern on an artificial island within a former sand quarry. These rocks were carried by glaciers from distant regions during prehistoric ice ages and left behind when the ice melted.
The site served as an active sand quarry from 1840 to 1845, supplying materials for the construction of the Rhijnspoorweg railway line. After the quarrying ended, the excavated pit was later reimagined and filled with the erratic stones as an artistic geological project.
The site functions as an outdoor geological museum where visitors examine rocks transported by glaciers from Scandinavia and central Europe.
The site is accessible year-round through a dam that connects to the artificial island where you can walk among the stones. The terrain is uneven in places, and grazing animals help maintain the grounds, so stay aware of your surroundings.
The walls of the former quarry descend many meters deep and reveal multiple layers created during the Saale Ice Age by the movement of ice and water. These geological cross-sections tell the story of how the landscape was shaped over thousands of years.
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