Bielsteinhöhle mit Lukenloch, Protected nature reserve in Horn-Bad Meinberg, Germany.
Bielsteinhöhle mit Lukenloch is a nature reserve featuring a narrow limestone gorge that stretches roughly 300 meters with rock walls rising to about 15 meters high. The site covers roughly 19 hectares and contains several cave openings, including a funnel-shaped depression about 26 meters deep.
The cave served as a living space and refuge for early humans in prehistoric times. In later periods it became known chiefly as a winter and summer roost for bats and remains so today.
Bats have made this cave system their winter home for centuries, shaping how the gorge functions ecologically. Visitors can observe the traces of these nocturnal creatures in the rock walls and cave entrances.
Access to the cave is closed from September through May to protect bats during their hibernation period. Summer visitors should stay on marked trails and take care not to disturb the delicate environment.
The name Lukenloch refers to the funnel-shaped opening at the surface through which cold air sinks into the deeper sections below. This natural ventilation system creates conditions that allow bats to use specific zones within the cave for overwintering.
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