Sunday, 19 July 2020

The Kinnekulle Grand Quarry

Our trip to Sweden was going to be very different this year considering we, to the difference to most of our friends, don't have our own place there but were staying with my parents.
Because of this, we couldn't see anybody else, or do any activities where there would be a lot of other people, risking bringing the virus back home to my parents who both are very much risk group.

Even though we mostly stayed at home and just enjoyed the surroundings and the garden, we did small, but safe, excursions. One day we did a trip to the Kinnekulle Grand Quarry. This is a popular excursion spot but there was no issues practising social distance here.

One of the reasons this is such a popular place to visit, a part from the beautiful setting, is the many shifting colours of the rock, including grey, green-grey and reddish brown. The lower layers of the limestone were laid down 400 million years ago and you can see over 40 meters of the strata.

Most of the limestone from this quarry was used to manufacture cement between the years 1892 and 1979. A total of 80 million tons of limestone were quarried.

Once the cement production dwindled and the site was restored, this pond was created at the base of the quarry to supply the surrounding meadows with water. It has been stocked with rainbow trout and you can purchase a fishing permit to try your luck if you wish.
We only stopped for 'fika'! 

 

 
 
We went for a walk around the whole lake and could enjoy great views of the limestone layers, and the lake. It felt like a mini Grand Canyon, it was a lovely afternoon. Such a unique and beautiful place!

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