The basis for all activities which lead to Vulcaneifel Geopark is the unique geological situation within the western part of the Rhenish Slate Mountains, here the Eifel North-South Zone, a depression zone of nine limestone synclines in north-south arrangement which is crossed at the south end by Neozoic, basaltic fissure, scoria and maar volcanism.

The Eifel-North-South Zone is an area built by synclines of middle-devonian age are known. This zone, ranging from the town Mechernich, south from Cologne, towards the south to an area 20 kilometers north from Bitburg, is of about 30-60 kilometer width and 60-70 kilometer north-south extension. In the southern part of the Eifel-Zone basaltic volcanism took place. Today it is known as Westeifel Volcanic Field. Tertiary and with higher frequency, quartanary volcanic activity, created typicalvolcanic morphology and a special type of volcanism, the so called maars, the youngest the Ulmen Maar erupted around 11.000 years b.p.. About 350 eruption centers are located here. 

Already in the 19th century paleontologists visited the Eifel region to find a large variety of fossils of Devonian age, crinoids and trilobites as well as reef organisms, some similar, but some different from those found in Devonshire. Many paleontologists, structural geologists and raw material engineers investigated the Paleozoic sequences of this region during the last two centuries.
Vulcanoeifel first became famous for its fossils of lower and middle Devonian age.
The situation up to today has changed. Many of the former "Fossil pits" are nature protected areas. Economically the region became famous for its mineral water resources.

Today many volcanologists and geologists as well as environmental scientist and biologists do research here because of the large open pits which give a new dimension to look into volcanological processes as well as in perspectives for sustainable developments ideas. Some of the quarries have become basis for rare geotope and biotope assemblages. However mere protection does not lead to acceptance. Sustainable development in an area with raw material management leads to conflicts but also to innovative concepts e.g. for water management.
 
See a group of students discussing their results on water research. Some university groups have already done one week training courses for their students in the field here, staying at youth hostels or in school lodges. Instead of digging lava-ash hills off for raw material purposes and destroying earth history and geological heritage of unique character, it is necessary to start documentation and intensify research as well as education on geological and environmental items to keep the landscape and resources of the earth crust, in the broades sense, for further generations. Today units of the Vulcaneifel Geopark support university activities for research by local logistic and by promoting and transferring these activities to the media. A striking example is the "Eifel-plume-project". One unit in Vulcaneifel offered the possibility to used the whole room area and equipment during 1 year registration time for research purposes. Meanwhile first results have been presented to the local public with support of the public relations here and an enormous resonance was the result.

Beside this a cooperation has started to prepare educational material on geological items for schools. Training courses for geopark-guides are held here to qualify touristic guides on one side and on the other side to create a new field of employment within the geotourism as service offer for friends of the earth and other guests.
 
This is part of the new development which took place here during the last 15 years, by promoting public relations for geological phenomena of Vulcaneifel in combination with touristic development. A broad support by local communities lead to about 12 geo-units which offer e.g. field trip service for different groups.

Vulcaneifel Geopark today means a network of 12 geo-units in an area of about 120.000 hectar. Four of them are museums like the Vulcanmuseum Daun, the Maarmuseum Manderscheid, the Ironmuseum Juenkerath and the Naturalhistory Museum of Gerolstein. The run in combination with three existing geo-trails: Geo-Pfad Hillesheim, Geo-Route Manderscheid and Geopark Gerolstein, each with marked geological outcrops and locations on routes around small towns with a large number of geological information on interpretation-panels. There is pool of information out-doors which enables groups to do tours on their own.
Geologists working in the units welcome scientific visitors and contact specialists for any special wish neede. Geological highlights as the Dauner Maare, the devnian reef areas in Gerolstein and Hilllesheim, the tertiary scientific research field of the Eckfeld Maar in Manderscheid as well as volcanic outcrops like fissures, antidunes, scoria complexes, solide lava-lakes and other special phenomena can be part of a tour prepared by Vulcaneifel Geopark units.

You are welcome to ask for information as well as for cooperation partners. Find out more about this unique part of planet earth and see there is still more research to do!