Schwarzerdeprofil Asel, Soil profile monument in Harsum, Germany.
The Schwarzerdeprofil Asel is a soil profile monument displaying multiple layers stacked vertically to a depth of about 1.2 meters. The exposed section clearly shows dark humic soil on top, followed by yellow-ochre loess, with gray-brown clay at the base.
The soil formation developed after the last Ice Age under continental climate conditions. However, the deepest clay layers originated much earlier, approximately 110 million years ago, during the Lower Cretaceous period when very different geological processes were at work.
The University of Hannover initiated protection measures in 1990, establishing this location as the sole protected soil profile in Lower Saxony.
Access to the profile is provided by a secured metal staircase with handrails, and information panels at the site explain the geological features. Plan your visit for dry weather conditions, as wet soil can affect both safety and visibility of the layers.
This is the only protected soil profile exhibition in Lower Saxony, established through the efforts of Hannover University. The protection measures were put in place during the 1990s to preserve this geological teaching site.
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