Map of the Geotope of Thuringia

Geotopes are earth-historical formations of inanimate nature that convey insights into the evolution of the earth or life. They include excavations of rocks, soils, minerals and fossils, as well as individual natural creations and natural landscape components. Those geotopes worthy of protection are those that stand out for their particular earth-historical significance, rarity, peculiarity or beauty. For science, research and teaching, as well as for nature and native science, they are documents of particular value. In particular, if they are at risk and comparable objects are not available for compensation, they may require legal protection. Geotope protection is the area of nature conservation, which deals with the conservation and maintenance of protected geotopes. The technical tasks of the collection and evaluation of geotopes as well as the justification of proposals for protection, care and conservation measures for protected geotopes are carried out by the geological services of the Länder, in Thuringia by the Thuringian State Office for the Environment, Mining and Nature Conservation. Enforcement is carried out by the competent nature protection authorities (work instructions geotope protection in Germany; Guidelines of the State Geological Services of the Federal Republic of Germany; 2., updated and supplemented edition issued by the State Geological Services of the Länder; Jena, 2018). Some geotopes with protective fossil sites are protected in Thuringia. The map shows the geotopes with designation and geotope type as well as a short description. Their location can be displayed up to the scale of 1:10 000. The large number of objects indicates the multitude of rocks and structures found in Thuringia. Information on new locations, as well as state changes and correction notes are accepted in order to keep the cadastral as current as possible. An evaluation and descriptive inclusion of new geotopes in the cadastre and their presentation in the map is possible, as well as the support of subprotection applications.