Eifel

Land: Rhineland-Palatinate

Situation and characteristics

The Eifel, an upland region some 70km/45mi long and 30km/20mi wide between the Rhine, the Mosel and the Rur, is a residual range of hills averaging 600 m/2,000ft in height and reaching its highest point in the Hohe Acht (746 m/2,448ft) which was disrupted by more than 200 volcanoes. The lava flows from these extinct volcanoes can still be clearly distinguished in the present landscape pattern, particularly around the Laacher See, the Nürburgring and the towns of Daun and Manderscheid.

Maare

Also of volcanic origin are the romantically beautiful maare so characteristic of the Eifel - old volcanic craters, mostly now filled by small lakes. A particularly fine example of a maar is the 52 m/170ft deep Laacher See, surrounded by more than forty lava vents. Equally beautiful are the maare around Daun, particularly the Gemündener Maar and the melancholy Totenmaar. Dams

In recent years a number of large dams have been constructed in the northwestern Eifel, forming artificial lakes and producing attractive new landscape patterns, such as the dam in the Urft valley and the Schwammenauel reservoir in the river Rur. The rivers, the maare and the lakes have great attractions for anglers and water sports enthusiasts, and the abundant snow of the Hocheifel and Schnee-Eifel offers excellent skiing.