Vogelsberg volcanic massif - 5 - Hohen Vogelsberg.

Vogelsberg, " the bird's mountain ", is the largest European basaltic massif and the only German shield volcano. Heavily eroded, its highest peaks are Taufstein with 773 m. and Hoherodskopf with 763 m.

It is mainly covered with hardwoods and surrounded by the so-called belt-Grünland Fichten, a landscape of hedges feature of Vogelsberg. Meadows, fields, forests, a plant universe of multiple species as well as ponds and lakes are the natural setting. With a dense network of hiking trails, the natural park Hoher Vogelsberg let admire a very diverse flora and fauna.
 

Vogelsberg - overview of Hoherodskopf, one of the peaks of the massif - photo © Bernard Duyck 05.2014

Vogelsberg - Hoherodskopf: telecommunications tower, 144 meters high - photo © Bernard Duyck 05.2014

Hoherodskopf :

Located near the Information Centre for the Conservation of Nature, this spot is  touristically overexploited (installation for winter sports, acrobranche course, walking, cafes, restaurant, bus stop Vulkan-Express  ... a trailer for cyclists tired or sore shortcuts), but poorly marked geologically ... we must have his nose on Geotop for an indication!

Dark gray basalt outcrops yet near the tower. With a microscope, olivine and plagioclase are revealed.

A peculiarity: the basanite has such a high content of magnetite as a compass needle is deflected.
 

Vogelsberg - basanite outcrop - photo © Bernard Duyck 05.2014

Taufstein is the highest peak in the Vogelsberg, with its 773 meters.

Outcrops of dark basanite, with olivine and clinopyroxene phenocrysts, in large blocks, are visible in part of natural forest left.

At the top stands the Bismarck Tower (1906 -1910) built in basalt blocks ... one of 240 high towers in the German Empire in honor of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck

A place where Saint Boniface (see ante) have preached and baptized in the 8th century is marked by a few large blocks and called "Bonifatiusborn"

 

Taufstein - mossy basalt blocks to leave just guess - photo © Bernard Duyck 05.2014

Taufstein - a summary cleaning was necessary to reveal the nature - photo © Bernard Duyck 05.2014

Taufstein - The austere Bismarck Tower in basalt blocks - photo © Bernard Duyck 05.2014

Taufstein - Bonifatiusborn - photo Dr. Mabuse

Sources :  

- Petrogenesis of basanitic to tholeiitic volcanic rocks from the Miocene Vogelsberg, Central Germany - by P.J.F. Bogaard & G. Wörner / Journal of Petrology.

- Petrogenesis of tertiary continental intra-plate lavas from the Westerwald region, Germany  / Journal of Petrology.

- Der Vogelsberg - Geotope im grössten vulkangebiet mitteleuropas - Th. Reischmann & Ad. Schraft.