Klintholm Kalkgrave - limestone quarry
Explore a landscape where layers of the Earth’s history are clearly visible. Klintholm Kalkgrave combines geology, nature and traces of former limestone quarrying.
Klintholm Kalkgrave is located along the coast of the Great Belt between Nyborg and Svendborg. The area was formerly used for limestone extraction between 1935 and 1973, when the material was used as agricultural lime. Today the former quarries form a series of limestone pits and turquoise-blue lakes. Access is via the parking area at Stenagergård, from where paths lead to the coast and the quarry sites.
The area is designated as a national geological site of interest and is also recognised internationally as a geological locality (a UNESCO Geosite). Here a clear boundary between two geological periods can be seen: a lower layer of white bryozoan limestone from the Danian period about 65–60 million years ago, and an upper layer of grey marl from the Selandian period. Fossils from marine life such as bryozoans, sea urchins, corals and sharks can be found in the limestone.
The area also supports diverse wildlife and plant life. Small ponds around the quarry are home to the protected fire-bellied toad as well as newts and frogs. Marked paths allow visitors to explore the landscape, and the nearby Klokkefrøstien trail follows the coastline. The surrounding area also offers beaches, fishing spots and a coastal shelter site for overnight stays.
Klintholm Limestone Quarry is part of the South Funen Archipelago Geopark
In 2018, Svendborg, Faaborg-Midtfyn, Langeland, and Ærø decided to establish the South Funen Archipelago Geopark with the aim of being designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark. The purpose of the geopark is to create and preserve an area that accommodates both humans and nature.
A UNESCO Global Geopark should bring the geology, nature, and cultural history of an area into play and convey a message that humans are part of life on Earth. That we all depend on the Earth's resources, are affected by climate change, and are responsible for sustainable development.
The South Funen Archipelago Geopark tells the story of a dramatic sea-level rise in Southern Funen and the islands. A sea-level rise that shaped a very special nature, which for the last few 10,000 years has formed the basis for the area's existence and cultural identity. It is the story of how the landscape and archipelago continue to change and define how we as humans live today. And the South Funen Archipelago Geopark is primarily about understanding how, through sustainable development, we can continue to protect our special geological, biological, and cultural heritage.