Wellheimer Trockental, Dry valley in Southern Franconia, Germany.
Wellheimer Trockental is a dry valley in Southern Franconia lined with steep limestone cliffs and exposed rock faces. The valley stretches about 9 kilometers between two towns and displays distinctive layered rock formations along both slopes.
The valley formed over two million years ago when an ancient river carved through limestone creating deep channels. Geological shifts during the Pleistocene period diverted the water source, leaving behind the sculpted landscape we see today.
The valley has been shaped by human activity over thousands of years. Evidence of early settlements and shelters shows how people adapted to and used this landscape.
A cycling path runs through the valley, built partly on the route of a former railway line, offering a gentle way to explore the landscape. The path is suitable for different fitness levels and provides varied viewpoints of the rock formations and slopes.
The limestone grasslands on the slopes support an exceptional diversity of butterfly species found nowhere else in the region. These specialized insects thrive on the exposed rocks and sparse vegetation creating a unique ecosystem.
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