Großer Stein Tonnenheide, Natural monument in Rahden, Germany.
Großer Stein Tonnenheide is a natural monument in Rahden, a massive granite boulder with dimensions of 10 meters long, 7 meters wide, and 3 meters tall. The block weighs around 350 tons and displays surface markings that reflect its long interaction with people over the centuries.
During the Saale glacial period, glaciers carried this massive granite boulder from Blekinge in Sweden approximately 615 kilometers to its current location in Rahden. The stone was detached from its bedrock and deposited by glacial forces over thousands of years.
The boulder serves as a gathering spot where locals continue traditional baking practices, preparing regional Platenkuchen in stone ovens during regular community events.
The site remains open year-round without admission charges, and parking facilities along with information panels are provided for visitors. The best time to visit is during dry weather, as the ground around the stone can become muddy after rain.
The boulder displays extraction marks on its surface, showing that at least 20 cubic meters of material were removed from it over the centuries. These carved traces reveal how earlier generations quarried stone from this glacial erratic for building purposes.
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