Glacial erratic on Wolności Square in Racibórz

Glacial erratic
View from Wojska Polskiego Street
Map
50°05′37.45″N 18°12′53.65″E / 50.0937361°N 18.2149028°E / 50.0937361; 18.2149028
LocationRacibórz,  Poland
Typenatural monument
Opening dateJune 10, 1960

The glacial erratic on Wolności Square is a glacial erratic composed of granite (with numerous inclusions) from the Ice age, located on Wolności Square [pl] in Racibórz. It is the largest of all erratics found in the Racibórz Basin [pl][1][2] and the largest commemorative erratic in the Silesian Voivodeship[3] and all of Silesia. In 1960, it was designated a natural monument.

Characteristics

The glacial erratic is composed of granite, featuring red feldspar and quartz. It weighs 42.5 tons, has a volume of 16.5 m³, a length of 3.25 m, and a height of 2.25 m.[4][5] It is situated in the middle of Wolności Square [pl] on plot number 843/175. Two hiking trails pass by the erratic: the yellow Trail of Polish Minority Schools [pl] and the red Trail of the Polish Hussars [pl].[2]

History

This boulder originated from Scandinavia and was transported to the Racibórz Basin [pl] by glaciers during the Mindel glaciation.[3] It was discovered in 1927 in a sand pit owned by Karol Popelli in Wojnowice.[1][2][6] The boulder was fully exposed in 1929, and in 1934, following the advice of a local teacher, Alfons Nentwig, it was transported to Racibórz to its current location, which was then known as Adolf Polko Square (German: Polkoplatz).[1]

Transporting the boulder was a significant undertaking at that time.[5] The chassis used for its transport was borrowed from a carpet factory in Kietrz. A specially produced boiler from Siemens-Plania Werke (now SGL Carbon, formerly ZEW S.A.) was placed on the chassis. Clamps and ropes supplied by the Fröhlich company were used to secure the boulder, while the Racibórz railway provided rails and wooden ties. The transportation involved a platform pulled by two steam locomobiles rented from Count Lichnowsky of Chuchelná.[5] The boulder finally arrived at its destination on 6 June 1934. Once positioned, it was surrounded by a small wall adorned with plaques bearing the names of fighters from the National Socialist movement. It replaced the first public fountain in Racibórz, which had been funded by Adolf Polko. The ceremonial inauguration took place on 1 July 1934.[7] The boulder was meant to symbolize the new era as a millennium monument of the National Socialist movement.[6] In 1945, the surrounding wall was removed.[4][7]

Since 10 June 1960, it has been designated as a natural monument, as per decree no. 179 of the Presidium of the Provincial National Council in Opole.[8][9] A subsequent decree reaffirming the status of the boulder as a natural monument was issued by the Silesian Voivode in regulation no. 21/05 on 16 June 2005.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wawoczny, Grzegorz (2007). Zabytki powiatu raciborskiego [Monuments of the Racibórz County] (in Polish). Racibórz: Wydawnictwo i Agencja Informacyjna WAW. p. 99. ISBN 978-83-89802-36-1.
  2. ^ a b c Pieszo i rowerem po ziemi raciborskiej i opawskiej [On Foot and by Bike through the Racibórz and Opava Lands] (in Polish and Czech). Racibórz: Wydawnictwo i Agencja Informacyjna WAW. 2006. p. 58.
  3. ^ a b Wieland, Z. (15 August 2004). "Pomniki przyrody nieożywionej" [Monuments of Inanimate Nature]. www.2007.przyroda.katowice.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2011-04-13.
  4. ^ a b Newerla, Paweł J. (2008). Dzieje Raciborza i jego dzielnic [History of Racibórz and Its Districts] (in Polish). Racibórz: Wydawnictwo i Agencja Informacyjna WAW. p. 191. ISBN 978-83-89802-73-6.
  5. ^ a b c Wawoczny, Grzegorz (2003). Weekend w Bramie Morawskiej: niepowtarzalne atrakcje turystyczne ziemi raciborskiej i opawskiej [Weekend in the Moravian Gate: Unique Tourist Attractions of the Racibórz and Opava Regions] (in Polish). Racibórz: Wydawnictwo i Agencja Informacyjna WAW. p. 27. ISBN 978-83-917453-4-2.
  6. ^ a b Baturo, Iwona (2009). Racibórz: miasto na czasie [Racibórz: A City for the Times] (in Polish). Kraków: Amistad. p. 50. ISBN 978-83-7560-058-2.
  7. ^ a b Newerla, Paweł (1995). Opowieści o dawnym Raciborzu [Tales of Old Racibórz] (in Polish). Racibórz: Towarzystwo Miłośników Ziemi Raciborskiej. p. 198.
  8. ^ Duda, Jan (28 February 2006). "Przyroda Powiatu Raciborskiego" [Nature of the Racibórz County]. www.powiatraciborski.pl (in Polish). p. 21. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24.
  9. ^ "Rada Miasta ustanowiła pomniki przyrody" [The City Council Established Natural Monuments]. www.raciborz.com.pl (in Polish). 2 December 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-11-14.
  10. ^ "Rozporządzenie Nr 21/05 Wojewody Śląskiego z dnia 16 czerwca 2005 r. w sprawie ustanowienia pomnika przyrody – głazu narzutowego, zlokalizowanego w miejscowości Racibórz" [Regulation No. 21/05 of the Silesian Voivode dated June 16, 2005, on the Establishment of a Natural Monument – a Glacial Erratic Located in the Town of Racibórz]. Dziennik Urzędowy Województwa Śląskiego 2005 (in Polish). 81. Katowice: Poligrafia Zakładu Obsługi Śląskiego Urzędu Wojewódzkiego. 21 June 2005. ISSN 1643-2800.