Lichtenstein Cave, Natural monument and prehistoric cave in Osterode am Harz, Germany.
Lichtenstein Cave is a natural hollow extending about 115 meters through the mountain near Osterode, formed by geological processes over time. Inside, the passage is flanked by layers of sandstone and gypsum created by underground water flow.
People used this cave as shelter for extended periods thousands of years ago, as excavation work confirmed. Discoveries from the 1980s revealed remains and objects from a time when bronze was being worked in the region.
The cave draws researchers and visitors interested in the early inhabitants of the region. It shows how people once lived in natural shelters like this thousands of years ago.
The entrance sits along Förster Straße near Osterode, and the way is clearly marked from the nearby town. Wear sturdy shoes because the ground inside is uneven and often damp.
The Salza river flows near the base of the hill on the western side, and this water flow over thousands of years shaped the very cave that visitors explore today. The cave and river together show how natural forces carved out this shelter over deep time.
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