Der Exerzierplatz Erlangen - Earthcache

Concentrated large sandhabitats are a peculiarity in the bavarian districts of Middle- and Upperfranconia.

In the valleys of the rivers Rednitz, Pegnitz and Regnitz as well as in their feeding rivers from Weißenburg
up to Bamberg you will find broad sandy areas as well as natural beaches - this is the territory of the Franconian Axis of Sand

The sandy areas primarily devloped during the last ice-age approximately 10 000 years ago.

Mainlyin the western Parts of the area the Keupersandstone mountains eroded to sand and were washed ashore
by the rivers and streams and deposited in terraces.
Stong winds, in the most instances from the west blew the smooth sand out of the floodplains and formed dunes,several metres in height

As early as in Neolithic timest he first settlers used the loose ground in the valleys.
For a long time the floral pastures and fields as well as the light-flooded forersts drew the image of our man-made environment.
Sandy habitats are also an important cultural heritage of our homeland

The Sandaxis is one of Bavarias largest nature conservation projects, consisting of
Seven rural districts and five urban districts, which are :

| Stadt Bamberg | Landkreis Bamberg | Stadt Erlangen | Landkreis Erlangen-Höchstadt |
| Landkreis Forchheim | Stadt Fürth | Landkreis Fürth | Stadt Nürnberg | Landkreis Nürnberger Land |
| Landkreis Roth | Stadt Schwabach | Landkreis Weißenburg - Gunzenhausen |

Due to these conditions the grounds are:
* moderately dry up to moist or even wet
* poor in nutrients
* slightly up to highly acidic

in consequence of this sandy habitat the existing flora and founa is rather specifically an cannot be found elsewhere


To Log, please do this on site:
* Take a picture of you and your GPS device in front ot the pavilion
* Send us a mail and answer following Question (via Geocaching.com -> Answer) Which four different kinds of soil are being described on the display board