Mossy River Landscapes

Click the images to enlarge

Rivers


Fontinalis antipyretica in Gillersbach	Rhycostegium riparoides in Eichenbach (Eifel)	Brachythecium rivulare in Eichenbach (Eifel)

River and stream valleys


Sankt Gallenkirch, Austria	Olympic National Park, USA	Luntersebeek stream (Gelderland)

Dreimühlen waterfall, Eifel, Germany

The Driemühlen ('3 mills') waterfall in the Chalk Eifel is a remarkable example of a structure formed by mosses. The chalk-rich water comes out through Crataneuron moss, and chalk deposits are formed on the moss leaves (see microphoto). These deposits build up and so gradually the waterfall grows. The outer layer is living moss, the inner structure petrified moss.

For comments about this site please mail to

(e-mail address given as graphic to avoid spam)