Rodderberg, Extinct volcano in Wachtberg, Germany
Rodderberg is an extinct volcano near Wachtberg that rises 195 meters above sea level with a shallow crater basin at its top. The hill sits close to the Rhine Valley and offers views across the surrounding landscape from its summit.
The volcano last erupted about 250,000 years ago and created a deep crater that gradually filled with water. Over thousands of years, sediment and soil accumulated in this basin until it took on its present form.
The name comes from a local family that settled in the region centuries ago. Today, people visit to enjoy views across the Rhine Valley and connect with the natural landscape.
Two routes lead to the summit: a steep direct path and a gentler zigzag trail that works well for visitors with strollers. The climb typically takes between 30 and 45 minutes depending on which path you choose.
The crater floor once held a deep lake called a maar, measuring about 90 meters in depth before natural processes gradually filled it with earth over millennia. This transformation shows how nature slowly converts old volcanic landscapes into rolling hills.
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