The Ernstberg (also Erresberg) southeast of Hinterweiler is, at 698.8 m, the highest of the west Eifel volcanoes and, after the

Hohe Acht The Hohe Acht () is the highest mountain () in the Eifel mountains of Germany. It is located on the boundary between the districts of Ahrweiler and Mayen-Koblenz in Rhineland-Palatinate. Geography and geology The Hohe Acht is located in the H ...

, the second highest mountain in the

Eifel The Eifel (; , ) is a low mountain range in western Germany, eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the southern area of the German-speaking Com ...

overall. Its summit consists of

pyroclastic rock Pyroclastic rocks are clastic rocks composed of rock fragments produced and ejected by explosive volcanic eruptions. The individual rock fragments are known as pyroclasts. Pyroclastic rocks are a type of volcaniclastic deposit, which are deposit ...

s (''Schweißschlacken'') that form a

volcanic crater A volcanic crater is an approximately circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity. It is typically a bowl-shaped feature containing one or more vents. During volcanic eruptions, molten magma and volcanic gases rise from an ...

that is open towards the east. This is where the

basalt Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...

masses flowed out, forming a semicircle on the eastern slope of the mountain. It lies within the Waldeifel region. In winter there are excellent winter sports conditions on the Ernstberg due to its height. Cut

langlauf Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing whereby skiers traverse snow-covered terrain without use of ski lifts or other assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreational activity; however, some still use it as a m ...

tracks, a toboggan slope and ski hire hut are available. Somewhat below the summit is a cave that runs through to the other side of the mountain and which is a

natural monument A natural monument is a natural or cultural feature of outstanding or unique value because of its inherent rarity, representative of aesthetic qualities, or cultural significance. They can be natural geological and geographical features such as w ...

. The cave entrances are barred to prevent access.''Höhle am Ernstberg''
in the database of cultural objects in Trier Region. Retrieved 10 Mar 2018.

Nature reserve

On 20 September 1978, the Ernstberg was designated by the district council at Trier as a

nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologic ...

. Its conservation aim is the preservation of the

Early Pleistocene The Early Pleistocene is an unofficial epoch (geology), sub-epoch in the international geologic timescale in chronostratigraphy, representing the earliest division of the Pleistocene Epoch within the ongoing Quaternary Period. It is currently esti ...

stratovolcano A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a typically conical volcano built up by many alternating layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile with ...

with its distinctive ring-shaped arrangement of its

and

layers (''Einlagerungen'') (

nepheline Nepheline, also called nephelite (), is a rock-forming mineral in the feldspathoid groupa silica-undersaturated aluminosilicate, Na3 K Al4 Si4 O16, that occurs in intrusive and volcanic rocks with low silica, and in their associated pegmatit ...

-leutzitite). In addition the aim is to preserve the colony of Perennial Honesty (''Lunaria rediviva'').

References

External links

Act concerning the Ernstberg Nature Reserve dated 20 September 1978

Map at the landscape information system of the Rhineland-Palatinate Conservation Authority
{{German Central Uplands Mountains and hills of Rhineland-Palatinate Mountains and hills of the Eifel Mountains under 1000 metres Nature reserves in Rhineland-Palatinate Vulkaneifel Natural monuments in Rhineland-Palatinate