Tränenlay

On the road from Bollendorf towards Wallendorf, near the Sauer Bridge in Dillingerbrück, a stop is worthwhile: The Tränenlay is a noteworthy calcareous sinter cave, where calcareous deposits have created unusual rock formations.

The explanation for this phenomenon: When rainwater seeps through the thick sandstone layer of the high plates, it dissolves the calcium-containing binder that holds the quartz grains of the rock together. There, where spring water seeps out on slopes and in valleys, as well as in the bank areas of streams or rivers, carbon dioxide escapes from the soluble calcium compound, the water evaporates, and a nearly pure limestone remains. This is called calcareous sinter or tufa. The calcareous sinter deposits along the flow paths of the water and coats moss and plant parts with a stony crust. This creates fascinating rock forms. The process of tufa formation continues steadily, with the rocks "growing" like stalactites over time.

The Hiking Trail Felsenweg 2 in the NaturWanderpark delux passes by the Tränenlay.

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