Mount Saint Peter

Mount Saint Peter
Mount Saint Peter

Mount Saint Peter and Casters cutting from the Albert Canal, with the Lanaye locks in the foreground
Elevation 120 m (394 ft)
Location
Mount Saint Peter is located in Belgium
Mount Saint Peter
 Netherlands,  Belgium
Coordinates 50°48′52″N 05°41′06″E / 50.81444°N 5.685°E / 50.81444; 5.685Coordinates: 50°48′52″N 05°41′06″E / 50.81444°N 5.685°E / 50.81444; 5.685
Discovered in the Maastricht caves, the Mosasaurus skull is the first fossil of an extinct reptile identified as such

Mount Saint Peter (Sint Pietersberg in Dutch, Montagne Saint-Pierre in French) is a ridge running north to south between the valleys of the Geer and the Meuse from Maastricht in the Netherlands to the area of Liège in Belgium.

Contents

Principal characteristics

Mount Saint Peter's limestone composition, its deposits of flint nodules and its geographic position make it a remarkable place. The locale has been mined for flint from Neolithic times. The network of mining tunnels extended 200 kilometres (120 mi) by the 19th century. The mountain supports the richest environment for bats in Benelux, as well as the richest environment for orchids in Benelux.[1] Some of the first recognised reptile fossils among which the famous Mosasaurus and turtles were found here in the 18th century; later dinosaur remains were discovered also, belonging to Betasuchus and Orthomerus.

In modern times the mountain has been a source of lime. The mountain's height and strategic location made it the site of Fort Eben-Emael in the twentieth century.[2]

Geology

At Mount Saint Peter the Geer (Jeker in Dutch) and the Meuse rivers have cut into the limestone plateau known in the east as the Herve plateau and in the west as Hesbaye. The succeeding geologic layers include loess, gravel, quartz sand and chalky limestone of the Maastricht Formation with inclusions of flint. The chalk deposits contain numerous fossils of sea urchins, clams and belemnites

Hydrography

The mountain is bounded on the east by the Meuse and on the west by the Geer. The Albert Canal cuts the mountain in two for 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) in length and 65 metres (213 ft) in depth at the Casters cutting. The Lanaye locks at the end of the cutting permit boats to pass to the Meuse basin from the Juliana Canal and the Rhine. To the east the course of the Meuse has been altered, creating backwaters and old channels.

Ecology

Orchidée Ophrys apifera

Because of its limestone soil, the Mount Saint Peter is exceptional in its botanical variety. It is the northern limit for a number of species of orchids due to its favorable microclimate.[1] Some of the orchids found there include:

Industry

Humans have used the site since the lower Paleolithic period. The area around Spiennes is known for its flint mines.[3] Marl has been quarried in the area for building stone. Limestone continues to be quarried for portland cement production. Abandoned quarries are used to dispose of ashes from municipal waste incinerators.

Source

References

  1. ^ a b "Nature sans frontieres" (in French). Montagne Saint-Pierre. Regionaal Landschap Haspengouw vzw. http://www.montagnesaintpierre.org/natuur_landschap/landschap.html. Retrieved 4 November 2010. 
  2. ^ Dunstan, Simon (2005). Fort Eben Emael: The Key to Hitler's Victory in the West. Osprey. p. 12. ISBN 1-84176-821-9. 
  3. ^ "Neolithic Flint Mines of Petit-Spiennes : Official web site". http://www.minesdespiennes.org/en.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16. 

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mount St. Peter Church — Mount Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church U.S. National Register of Historic Places …   Wikipedia

  • Saint Peter's fish — Saint Saint (s[=a]nt), n. [F., fr. L. sanctus sacred, properly p. p. of sancire to render sacred by a religious act, to appoint as sacred; akin to sacer sacred. Cf. {Sacred}, {Sanctity}, {Sanctum}, {Sanctus}.] 1. A person sanctified; a holy or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Saint Peter's wreath — Saint Saint (s[=a]nt), n. [F., fr. L. sanctus sacred, properly p. p. of sancire to render sacred by a religious act, to appoint as sacred; akin to sacer sacred. Cf. {Sacred}, {Sanctity}, {Sanctum}, {Sanctus}.] 1. A person sanctified; a holy or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Saint Peter's-wort — Saint Saint (s[=a]nt), n. [F., fr. L. sanctus sacred, properly p. p. of sancire to render sacred by a religious act, to appoint as sacred; akin to sacer sacred. Cf. {Sacred}, {Sanctity}, {Sanctum}, {Sanctus}.] 1. A person sanctified; a holy or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Saint Peter — For other uses, see St. Peter (disambiguation). Saint Peter the Apostle Painting of Saint Peter by Peter Paul Rubens depicting the saint as Pope (1611 1612). Prince of the Apostles, First Pope, Martyr, Preacher …   Wikipedia

  • Saint Peter, Barbados — Statistics Parish:Saint PeterArea:34km² (13 sq. mi.)Largest City:SpeightstownPopulation (1990 est.):10,055 inhab.Population Density:295,74 inhab/km²Parliamentary representation House seats1Map …   Wikipedia

  • Saint Peter's tomb — St. Peter s baldachin, by Bernini, in the modern St. Peter s Basilica. St. Peter s tomb lies directly below this structure. Saint Peter s tomb is a site under St. Peter s Basilica that includes several graves and a structure said by Vatican… …   Wikipedia

  • Basilica of Saint Peter —     Basilica of St. Peter     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Basilica of St. Peter     TOPOGRAPHY     The present Church of St. Peter stands upon the site where at the beginning of the first century the gardens of Agrippina lay. Her son, Caius… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Saint Joseph's Oratory — of Mount Royal Oratoire Saint Joseph du Mont Royal Basic information Location Montreal, Quebec Geographic coordinates …   Wikipedia

  • Mount Roraima — Mt. Roraima in April 2004 Elevation 2,810 m (9,219 ft)  …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”