Geology of the 'Kirchet'
The rock formation between Meiringen and Innertkirchet is called
the "Kirchet" and consists mainly of very hard limestone. This formation was created
in the Cretaceous Period appx. 130 – 160 million years ago as ocean sediment which
hardened to limestone over the years (sediment in the Thetis, the Geosynklinal ocean
of the alps).
When the alps were formed appx. 15 million years ago, these sediment
deposits were vaulted into the sediment casing of the crystalline mountains, but the
rock in the area of the Kirchet is autochthon, which means that it was barely moved.
As a result, the limestone here is very solid and resistant to water and ice. The
glaciers of the ice age, which began appx. 1 – 2 million years ago, were able to erode
the cliffs of the Kirchet, but not to carry them away.
In the first warm periods, as the glaciers receded, the water eroded a gorge through
the cliffs. In the cold period which followed, the glacier once again covered the
Kirchet which filled the gorge with moraine. During the next warm period, the melting
water did not wash out the moraine, but instead cut out a new gorge between the cliffs
and many new Aare Gorges were created during the ice ages. According to Müller’s
detailed observations, five further gorges exist which are partially or completely
filled with moraine. The "Lautere Schlucht" which begins at the car park of the Aare
Gorge and runs more or less parallel to the present gorge is a good example thereof.
It has not been possible to date the formation of each gorge and the different ice
ages. (Hantke, 1980).
