The Katzenhalde FFH site near Mettenberg is a near-natural forest area and part of the European Natura 2000 network of protected areas, which is protected under the Habitats Directive (FFH Directive). This directive aims to conserve natural habitats as well as wild animals and plants and to safeguard their diversity.
A ravine, such as the Katzenhalde, is a narrow, often gorge-like valley formed by water erosion and characterized here in particular by interesting Nagelfluh outcrops. Nagelfluh is a consolidated conglomerate of pebbles and sand formed during the ice ages by glacial deposits and bears witness to the geological past.
The formation of the area is closely linked to the Ice Age, particularly the Riss Glacial Period, one of the major glaciation phases in the Alpine foothills. During this time, glaciers deposited large quantities of sediment, which are visible today as Nagelfluh and other gravel deposits. These geological formations shape the landscape and provide valuable habitats for numerous plant and animal species.
