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| Großer Inselsberg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 916.5 m above sea level (NN) (3,007 ft) |
| Prominence | 228 m (748 ft) |
| Isolation | 27.3 km (17.0 mi) |
| Coordinates | 50°51′04″N10°27′57″E / 50.851111°N 10.465833°E /50.851111; 10.465833 |
| Geography | |
| Parent range | Thuringian Forest |
Großer Inselsberg is a mountain in theThuringian Forest with a height of 916.5 m (3,007 ft) above sea level, located onRennsteig in the districts ofGotha andSchmalkalden-Meiningen. It is the fourth-highest distinct mountain ofThuringia, afterGroßer Beerberg (982.9 m (3,225 ft)), Schneekopf (978 m (3,209 ft)) and Großer Finsterberg (944.1 m (3,097 ft)) and forms a landmark that can be viewed in particular from northern and western directions.
The summit of Großer Inselsberg is located about 3.2 km (2.0 mi) NNE ofBrotterode and 4 km (2.5 mi) southwest ofBad Tabarz. It forms a narrow, arched plateau of about 700 m (2,300 ft) length. The steep slopes are marked by deep dents and spurs formed by weathering.
The summit has a dominance radius of 27.3 km (17.0 mi) extending to Sommerbachskopf (941.5 m (3,089 ft) a.s.l.) and a prominence of 228 m (748 ft) relative to the saddle atHeuberghaus.
With the exception of the buildings, the summit region of Großer Inselsberg has been anature reserve since 30 March 1961.
Großer Inselsberg is arhyolitic butte that has withstood the weathering of the surrounding softer rock layers. The near-surface rocks of the summit region belong to the lower vulcanites of theOberhof sequence in the lowerRotliegend and crop out inReitsteine, a steep escarpment southeast of the summit. They are embedded in the conglomerates, sandstones and siltstones of theGoldlauter sequence to the north and the grainygneiss ofCambrian origin to the south. An abrupt transition between the Inselsberg rhyolite and the gneiss can be observed along the west–east Inselsbergfault.
The potential natural vegetation of the mountain is abeech forest, on the northern slope with an undergrowth ofheath bedstraw, on the sunny southern side withwoodrush. Some near-natural beech forests are preserved on the southern and the northeastern slope. The commonspruce has been introduced through silviculture. The once indigenoussilver fir has disappeared. Other naturally occurring tree species includesycamore,Norway maple,ash,elm,sessile oak,pedunculate oak,silver birch,alder,larch,goat willow, andwild cherry.[1]
The name is popularly ascribed to the solitary aspect of Großer Inselsberg and is said to be derived from Germaneinzeln ("solitary") orInsel (Island), but is probably derived from a stream calledEmse or in the Middle AgesEnze which has its source on the northwestern slope of the mountain.[2]
The mountain is one of the best known excursion destinations in Thuringia. Its summit is crossed by the traditional mountain pathRennsteig, whose route is shared here by the European long-distance hiking path E3 and the international mountain hiking path Eisenach–Budapest (EB). A road facilitating access to the summit branches off the state road 1024 between Brotterode and Tabarz, and parking spaces are provided. A youth hostel, a restaurant and an outlook tower serve tourists.
