Kaiserslautern Basin


The Kaiserslautern Basin is part of the link between Lorraine and the northern Upper Rhine Lowland. In the centre of the Kaiserslautern Basin lies the Landstuhl Marsh, also called the West Palatine Moor Depression or Westrich Moor Depression.

Location and boundaries

The basin extends in length from east to west for about 50 kilometres from the area around Bexbach to Alsenborn. Its width varies between three and seven kilometres.
The landscape ends in the east at the Palatine Forest, in the south on the edge of the Zweibrücken Westrich and in the north at North Palatine Uplands and covers a total of 236 km2. Its height varies between 225 and 250 metres above sea level (NN).

Morphology

The region, which lies entirely within bunter sandstone, was cultivated 200 years ago. Since then, as well as bogs, meadows and woods, there have also been fields. The woodland has since developed from mixed forest into almost pure coniferous forest. Previously the Kaiserslautern Basin was a giant wetland area. The many small wells in and around the city of Kaiserslautern emerged when the basin was partially drained, as many natural springs were fed into pipes.