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Germany / Baden-Württemberg - Black Forest by Michael Kemper

3

Deutschland - Baden-Württemberg - Schwarzwald

Feldberg (1493 m)

seen from Breitnau

gesehen von Breitnau

At 1,493 metres (4,898 ft) the Feldberg in the Black Forest is the highest mountain in Baden-Württemberg, and the highest in Germany outside of the Alps. The local municipality of Feldberg was named after the mountain.

Environment

The Feldberg is situated southeast of Freiburg im Breisgau and is surrounded by the municipalities of Hinterzarten (northeast), Titisee (east), Menzenschwand (south), Bernau (also south) and Todtnau (southwest). About two kilometres southeast of the summit lies the village of Feldberg (1,277 metres (4,190 ft)).

Between the main peak (1,493 metres (4,898 ft), also known as the Höchste or "Highest", and its subpeak, the Seebuck (1,448 metres (4,751 ft)), just under 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) away, is a saddle, the Grüble, from which a wide spur, the Baldenweger Buck (1,460 metres (4,790 ft)) branches off. The saddle initially descends gently and then ever more steeply into the valleys on either side. From the Seebuck the Feldberg drops steeply away to the northeast into the Feldsee, a lake of glacial origin at about 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) altitude. Deeply incised valleys run northwest towards Freiburg (the Zastler and St Wilhelmer valleys) and southwest towards Basle (Wiesental valley).

The main car park below the Seebuck can be reached from the B317 (federal highway) running from Titisee to Lörrach (near Basle) over the Feldberg Pass. A train service of the Three Lakes Railway serves the station of Feldberg-Bärental, at 967 metres (3,173 ft), the highest DB station on standard gauge track. A bus service connects with the station. The Seebuck, which is topped by an old transmission tower, the Feldberg Tower, once a radio tower, since 2013 a ham museum can be reached from the valley station in Feldberg-Ort on a short chairlift. From this point the summit of the Feldberg is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) away. It is only accessible to the public on foot or by bicycle.

The numerous point-to-point radio systems of the Bundeswehr and the American and French armies dating from the Cold War period have been since taken down. Today Feldberg is marked by the old and new television towers and the Bismarck monument on the Seebuck.

Altogether there are more than 28 ski lifts and slopes around the Feldberg. The actual summit itself is situated outside the skiing areas. Several cross-country skiing trails around the peak and around Herzogenhorn opposite are popular with cross-country skiers. The whole area, with ski-runs of Alpine character, is popular for ski touring.

Nature reserves

Most of the Feldberg area has the status of a nature reserve due to its subalpine vegetation. The Feldberg Nature Reserve is the oldest and largest in Baden-Württemberg and has been under the charge of a full-time ranger since 1989. Since 2001 it has been the responsibility of the Southern Black Forest Nature Conservation Centre, based in the Haus der Natur ("Nature House"), to look after the reserve. They have a permanent, interactive exhibition and a comprehensive programme with events in the reserve. In 2005, a new nature trail was established immediately behind the house.

Views

The Feldberg offers one of the most extensive panoramic views in Germany – especially in winter when there is a temperature inversion. In the west, on the far side of the Upper Rhine Graben, can be seen the entire Vosges range, from the Ballon d'Alsace to Mont Donon and Mont Sainte-Odile. Beyond that the southern Palatinate Forest can sometimes be seen. To the north is the Hornisgrinde; to the northeast the entire chain of the Swabian Jura, including the Lemberg, and, to its right, the Hegau volcanoes.

To the south, the Alps can be seen from the Alpspitze and Zugspitze in the east to the Allgäu Alps, Verwall Alps, Silvretta, Säntis, Glarus Alps, Urner Alps, Bernese Alps and Mont Blanc in the west. In front of the Western Alps and, particularly right of Mont Blanc, can be seen the Swiss Jura, with their highest point, the Chasseral. Thus the view sweeps from the Italian Mont Blanc to southwest Germany and from Austria to France.

Geology

The mountain's bedrock of gneiss is around one billion years old. The Feldberg region was uplifted three times and then eroded again. What exists today can be called the "third Feldberg". The "first Feldberg" was formed in the Precambrian as part of an orogen and was then completely eroded away. The "second Feldberg" arose during the Devonian and Carboniferous, as part of the Variscan orogeny. It, too, was eroded away, and, during the Mesozoic and Early Triassic, beds of Bunter sandstone, Muschelkalk, Keuper, Lias, Dogger and Malm were deposited in the resulting sedimentation space. Some of these sediments are maritime deposits from intercontinental oceans; the others are of continental origin. The "third" and current Feldberg was formed during the Alpine orogeny in the Tertiary. Since then these sediments have been steadily removed through water processes and aeolian erosion, and today little but the bedrock remains.

Glacial morphology

During the height of the Würm glaciation a glacier, 1,000 km2 in area, covered the Black Forest. As a result, a lot of glacial influence can be seen in the region. There are several features that relate to the glacial morphology of the Feldberg. Firstly, there is the Feldsee. This tarn formed in the hollow that was scoured out by the ice pushing down the headwall of the cirque. Gradually the ice created a bowl that now holds the 33-metre-deep Feldsee. A moraine on the shores of the Feldsee testifies to this process.

The Feldseemoor, a few metres away, is also a remnant of the ice age. Here the terminal moraine of the "mini glacier" can be seen from the Feldsee. It has impounded water and formed a bog. The glacial history of the Würm stage, 10,000–11,000 years ago, at the Feldberg evolved as follows: The emergence of the Feldsee happened as the "Feldberg glacier" spread out. The adjacent Feldseemoor was the next stage. The glaciers then formed a moraine at Waldhof. This was exceeded once more at the Falkau, which marks its maximum extent. After that, the glacier retreated again.

Climate and vegetation

Climate

Feldberg features a subalpine climate (Köppen: Dfc), for that its summers are mild enough to have less than three months with an average mean temperature below 10º degrees Celsius. The annual mean temperature is around 3.9 °C (39.0 °F) (30-year mean from 1981–2010), up 0.6 °C compared with the period from 1961–1990; their temperature gradients are lower than those in adjacent valleys. During winter, there are long periods of sunshine, due to the low condensation point. This also means that the Feldberg has relatively mild winters; the surrounding valleys having noticeably colder temperatures. The lowest temperature ever recorded was −30.7 °C (−23.3 °F) on 10 February 1956. The average rain/snowfall amount is 1,637 millimetres (64.4 in) per year which is very high compared with Germany as a whole. On 97% of the survey marks of the German Weather Service lower figures are reported. Over the years snowfall has been reported in every calendar month. On average the Feldberg is covered in snow for 157 days per year. Because of its exposed location, wind speeds of hurricane force – up to 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph) – are possible throughout the year.

Vegetation

As its name suggests, the Feldberg's summit is not wooded. However, the sharp transition to forest illustrates it is no natural border. Even the top of the mountain does not reach the tree line which, in this region, would lie at around 1,650–1,700 metres.

Many of the open areas are habitats for specialised species of flora; these include bogs, moors, rock faces and snow fields. Below the summit the mountain is covered by mixed forest consisting of naturally growing European beech, European rowan, European spruce, European silver fir and cultivated North American species Douglas fir. Human activity has resulted in forest clearings, such as the large open areas around every hamlet.

That is attributable to the intensive cattle farming in this region, which limits forest growth. Today one comes across both pioneer species like European Rowans and different sorts of shrubs there. On many places there are primeval forests being left to its own resources. A characteristic of the vegetation represent the moors.

Tourism

Summer

Today tourism is the main source of income in the Feldberg region.

The mountain has several managed huts and inns – the Baldenweger Hut, Rinken Hut, Zastler Hut, St. Wilhelmer Hut and Todtnauer Hut – for the benefit of walkers that are linked by footpaths. These include the Felsenweg ("Rock Way") and the Alpiner Pfad ("Alpine Path") which run through some of the last landscapes in the Black Forest that still have an Alpine character. The 12-kilometre-long Feldberg Steig ("Feldberg Path") runs around the summit and the Feldsee. In addition there are metalled roads to the inns and other facilities around the peak.

Winter

Feldberg is the biggest winter skiing resort in Germany outside of the Alps. The first ski lift was originally built in 1907 in the Feldberg area. Today, there are around 14 ski lifts (including five at the Seebuck, among them a six-seater chairlift) and over 50 kilometres (31 mi) of downhill runs up to a "black" level of difficulty. When there is sufficient snow, even a terrain park may be created. At the valley station are several garages for piste bashers and other equipment. There is a mountain rescue post below the old TV tower.

There are also many Nordic ski trails around the peak; two of which are the highest ones of Baden-Württemberg. Part of the cross-country skiing trail from Schonach to Belchen runs between Feldberg and Seebuck.

Alpine dangers

The Feldberg, like many low mountain ranges, is often underestimated in terms of its alpine dangers. Its easy accessibility by public transport, car and cable car suggests that it is not dangerous and, consequently, visitors may be inappropriately equipped or dressed. The main dangers in the Feldberg region are sudden falls in temperature, storms or slipping on smooth, icy ground. Near tall structures such as the transmission masts there is the danger falling ice. In fog or mist, orientation is clearly much more difficult. Often visibility is reduced to just a few metres. Marked paths outside the wooded areas are lined with poles to assist navigation.

Every winter there are several large avalanches in the Feldberg region. The mountainsides of the Zastler valley are particularly prone, but they also occur on leeward slopes like the Feldseekessel at Seebuck, the Herzogenhorn and the Baldenweger Buck. Snowfall driven by western winds forms cornices on the downwind sides of ridges (e. g. the Zastler Wechte), which can break off. Several fatal avalanche burials have happened, the last in January 2015 which left two dead. There are no special avalanche reports issued for the Black Forest.

Television towers

During the Cold War there were many antennas on a military tower at the summit, but these were removed some years ago. Today, there is a large TV / radio transmission mast, used by the regional broadcasting station, SWR (Southwest Broadcasting). In addition, the mountain is recognisable from its Bismarck Monument, in honour of the famous 19th-century chancellor of Germany, Otto von Bismarck.

Meteorological station

At the top of the mountain (where weather has been surveyed since 1915) is a weather station that has been in operation since 1937, run by the German Meteorological Service (WMO code number: 10908). Next to the observatory is a weather radar.

(Wikipedia)

Der Feldberg ist mit 1493 m ü. NHN[2] der höchste Berg in Baden-Württemberg. Er stellt auch die höchste Erhebung aller deutschen Mittelgebirge dar und ist damit der höchste Berg Deutschlands außerhalb der Alpen. Der Berg im Südschwarzwald dient zudem als Namensgeber der dazugehörigen Gemeinde Feldberg. Da er aus mehreren Gipfeln besteht, sollte man eher vom Feldbergmassiv sprechen.

Geographie

Lage

Der Feldberg liegt südöstlich von Freiburg im Breisgau, im Gebiet der Gemeinde Feldberg (Schwarzwald) im Landkreis Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, umgeben von den Orten Hinterzarten (nordöstlich), Titisee (östlich), Menzenschwand und Bernau (südlich) sowie Todtnau (südwestlich). Etwa 2 km südöstlich des Gipfels liegt in 1277 m Höhe der Ortsteil Feldberg-Ort.

Erreichbar ist der Feldbergfuß per Kfz über die von Titisee nach Lörrach (Basel) über den Feldbergpass führende B 317. Mit der Bahn erreicht man den höchstgelegenen Bahnhof an einer Normalspurstrecke der Deutschen Bahn, die Station Feldberg-Bärental (967 m ü. NN) der Dreiseenbahn. Von dort existiert eine Busverbindung. Den Seebuck erreicht man von Feldberg-Ort aus mit einer kurzen Kabinenseilbahn. Der Gipfel des Feldbergs ist durch eine befestigte Zufahrtsstraße für die dortigen Einrichtungen erschlossen, für Privatleute jedoch nur zu Fuß oder per Fahrrad erreichbar.

Oberflächenformen

Zwischen dem Feldberggipfel, auch der Höchste (früher Höchst) genannt, und seinem knapp zwei Kilometer weiter im Südosten liegenden Vorberg Seebuck (1449 m ü. NHN) fällt das Gelände zunächst zum Mittelbuck (1472 m ü. NHN) ab, von dem der Baldenweger Buck (1460 m ü. NHN) nördlich abzweigt, und weiter zur Senke des Grüble (1419 m ü. NHN). Vom Seebuck aus fällt der Feldberg nach Nordosten steil zum Feldsee ab. Tief eingeschnittene Täler erstrecken sich auch nach Nordwesten Richtung Freiburg (Zastlertal, St. Wilhelmer Tal) und nach Südwesten Richtung Basel (Wiesental).

Berghöhe

Zur Höhe des Feldbergs finden sich in offiziellen Quellen unterschiedliche Angaben. So wird in den topographischen Karten der Geoportale LUBW und BfN in kleinen Maßstäben eine Höhe von 1493 m angegeben, bei mittleren Maßstäben 1494 m und bei großen Maßstäben (unter etwa 1:18.000) 1494,2 m. Im Geoportal des LGL findet sich in allen Maßstäben eine Höhe von 1494,2 m.

Die aktuellen Angaben zur Geländehöhe aus dem DGM stammen von Laserbefliegungen in den Jahren 2000–2005 und 2017. Der höchste Geländepunkt liegt auf einem flachen Hügel etwa 20 m westlich des Friedrich-Luise-Turms. Auf dem Hügel befindet sich ein Stein oder ein Pfeiler. Im direkten Umfeld dieses Objekts beträgt die Geländehöhe am Boden 1494,2 m.[8] Außerhalb des Hügels, rund um das Gebäude beträgt die Geländehöhe 1493 m.[8] Der Hügel ist möglicherweise durch künstliche Aufschüttung entstanden und wurde bei der Laserscanning-Vermessung mit berücksichtigt.

Auf dem Gipfelplateau des Feldbergs befindet sich nordöstlich des Friedrich-Luise-Turms ein künstlich angelegtes Rondell (♁⊙), auf dem mehrere Granitblöcke platziert sind. Auf einem ist eine Gedenktafel des Schwarzwaldvereins angebracht, die hier den Feldberg mit 1493 m als höchsten Punkt Baden-Württembergs markiert. Auf dem etwa einen Meter hohen Granitblock in der Mitte des Rondells befindet sich eine runde Orientierungstafel mit folgender Beschriftung in ihrer Mitte: Feldberg 1495 M.

Nutzung

Insgesamt gibt es auf und um den Feldberg herum mehr als 28 Skilifte und Abfahrten mit alpinen Schwierigkeitsgraden (FIS-Strecke bei Fahl). Der eigentliche Feldberggipfel liegt außerhalb der Skigebiete. Mehrere Loipen um den Feldberggipfel und das dem Feldberg gegenüber liegende Herzogenhorn (1415 m ü. NHN) (Bundesleistungszentrum) bieten sich für den Skilanglauf an. Der Feldberg ist ein beliebtes Skitourengebiet mit Abfahrten alpinen Charakters unter anderem vom Feldberggipfel ins Zastler Loch.

Auf dem Seebuck befindet sich der Feldbergturm, ein ehemaliger Funkturm, der als Aussichtsturm dient und seit 2013 ein Schwarzwälder-Schinken-Museum beherbergt.

Die in Zeiten des Kalten Krieges zahlreichen Richtfunkanlagen von Bundeswehr, französischer und US-Armee sind mittlerweile abgebaut. Erkennbar ist der Feldberg heute am alten und am neuen Fernsehturm sowie am Bismarckdenkmal auf dem Seebuck.

Schutzgebiete

Der größte Teil des Feldberggebietes hat auf Grund seiner subalpinen Vegetation den Status eines Naturschutzgebietes.[12] Das Naturschutzgebiet Feldberg ist das älteste und größte Naturschutzgebiet Baden-Württembergs und wird seit 1989 durch einen hauptamtlichen Naturschutzwart (Feldberg-Ranger) betreut. Seit 2001 obliegt die Schutzgebietsbetreuung dem Naturschutzzentrum Südschwarzwald im Haus der Natur, das zudem als Verwaltungssitz des Naturparks Südschwarzwald dient. Neben einer interaktiven Dauerausstellung dort, gibt es direkt hinter dem Haus seit 2005 den Naturerlebnispfad „Der Wichtelpfad im Auerhahnwald“.

Panorama

Der Feldberg bietet eines der umfassendsten Panoramen in Deutschland, insbesondere im Winter, bei Inversionswetterlage. Im Westen sieht man jenseits des Oberrheingrabens die gesamten Vogesen vom Elsässer Belchen/Ballon d'Alsace bis zum Donon und zum Odilienberg. Dahinter sieht man gelegentlich bis zum südlichen Pfälzerwald beziehungsweise „Vosges du Nord“. Im Norden sieht man die Hornisgrinde, im Nordosten die ganze Kette der Schwäbischen Alb, insbesondere den Lemberg, rechts davon die Hegauvulkane.

Im Süden erstrecken sich die Alpen, von der Alpspitze und der Zugspitze im Osten über die Allgäuer Alpen, das Lechquellengebirge, Verwallgruppe und Silvretta; dann in den Westalpen der Alpstein mit dem Säntis, die Berge um den Walensee, die Glarner Alpen mit Ringelspitz, Glärnisch und Tödi, der Piz Gannaretsch, die Urner Alpen, Berner Alpen, Grand Combin und Mont Blanc bis zu den Freiburger Voralpen im Südwesten. Vor den Westalpen und dann vor allem rechts vom Mont Blanc erstreckt sich der Schweizer Jura mit dem Chasseral als höchstem Punkt. Das Panorama reicht somit von Italien bis nach Südwestdeutschland und von Österreich bis nach Frankreich.

Geologie und Tektonik

Das Grundgebirge des Feldberges besteht aus Gneis. Es ist rund eine Milliarde Jahre alt. Insgesamt wurde der Feldberg, beziehungsweise die Region, in welcher der Feldberg heute steht, im Laufe der Erdgeschichte vier Mal herausgehoben und dreimal wieder abgetragen. Das, was wir heutzutage sehen, kann man als den „dritten Feldberg“ bezeichnen. Der „erste Feldberg“ entstand im Präkambrium als Kollisionsgebirge. Dieses wurde komplett abgetragen. Der „zweite Feldberg“ entstand während des Devons und Karbons im Zuge der variskischen Gebirgsbildung. Dieser wurde abermals abgetragen und im entstehenden Sedimentationsraum lagerten sich während des Mesozoikums Buntsandstein, Muschelkalk, Keuper, Lias, Dogger und Malm ab. Teile dieser Sedimente sind Meeresablagerungen durch sich bildende innerkontinentale Meere, die anderen festländischen Ursprungs. Das dritte, heutige, Feldbergstadium bildete sich als Fernwirkung der alpidischen Gebirgsbildung während des Tertiärs. Die oben genannten Sedimente wurden nach der Heraushebung nach und nach abgetragen und heute ist fast ausschließlich das Grundgebirge zu finden. Bis heute wird der Feldberg herausgehoben, dies wird jedoch durch die Abtragung aufgewogen. Durch Erosion und äolische Abtragung finden auf dem Feldberg Verebnungen statt, so dass weiträumige Flächen zu beobachten sind.

Glazialmorphologie

Während des Maximums der Würmeiszeit bedeckte ein rund 1000 km² großer Gletscher den Schwarzwald. Deshalb sind im Schwarzwald sehr viele glaziale Einflüsse zu erkennen. Zur Glazialmorphologie des Feldberges gibt es mehrere Anschauungsobjekte. Dazu gehört zunächst der Feldsee. Er ist durch Eis, welches die Kar-Rückwand im Lee herabgeschoben hat, exariert worden. Nach und nach schuf das Eis auf diese Weise den 33 m tiefen Feldsee. Eine Moräne am Ufer des Feldsees zeugt von dieser Entwicklung. Auch das Feldseemoor, ein paar Meter weiter gelegen, ist ein Überbleibsel der Eiszeit. Hier ist die Endmoräne des „Minigletschers“ vom Feldsee zu sehen. Sie hat Wasser aufgestaut und bildete so ein Moor. Die glaziale Geschichte der Würmeiszeit vor 10.000–11.000 Jahren am Feldberg hat folgendermaßen ausgesehen: Die Entstehung des Feldsees geschah bei der Ausbreitung des „Feldberggletschers“. Das anschließende Feldseemoor war die nächste Etappe. Danach bildete der Gletscher eine Endmoräne bei Waldhof. Diese wurde beim Falkau-Vorstoß, welcher das Maximum markiert, noch einmal übertroffen. Danach zog sich der Gletscher wieder zurück.

Klima und Vegetation

Klima

Die Jahresdurchschnittstemperatur auf dem Feldberg liegt bei rund 3,9 °C (30-jähriger Mittelwert der Periode 1981–2010). Sie ist damit um 0,6 °C im Vergleich zur Periode 1961–1990 gestiegen. Das Klima ist subatlantisch getönt, die Temperaturschwankungen sind geringer als im Tal. Im Winter ist die Sonnenscheindauer aufgrund des niedrigen Kondensationspunktes sehr hoch. Auch deshalb ist es auf dem Feldberg im Winter relativ mild, so werden in den umliegenden Hochtälern deutlich niedrigere Tiefsttemperaturen gemessen. Die durchschnittliche Jahresniederschlagsmenge liegt bei 1637 mm und ist damit im deutschlandweiten Vergleich sehr hoch. An über 97 % der Messstationen des Deutschen Wetterdienstes werden niedrigere Werte registriert. Ein großer Teil davon fällt als Schnee. In allen Monaten kam es seit Beginn der Wetteraufzeichnungen schon zu Schneefällen. Im langjährigen Mittel gibt es auf dem Feldberg jährlich 157 Tage eine geschlossene Schneedecke. Aufgrund der exponierten Lage kann es das ganze Jahr über zu orkanartigen Winden kommen.

Durch die Wetterwarte wurden folgende extreme Werte gemessen:

Die höchste Temperatur betrug 27,4 °C am 31. Juli 1983.

Die tiefste Temperatur betrug −30,7 °C am 10. Februar 1956.

Die größte Schneehöhe betrug 350 cm am 9. und 10. März 1970.

Die höchste gemessene Windgeschwindigkeit betrug 217 km/h am 3. Januar 2018 (Sturmtief Burglind)[15]. Am 26. Dezember 1999 (Orkan Lothar) wurde eine Geschwindigkeit von 212 km/h gemessen, allerdings fiel der Windmesser während des Maximums des Orkans aus.

Vegetation

Wie in seinem Namen anklingt, ist der Feldberggipfel nicht bewaldet. Der Name stammt vom mittelhochdeutschen Velt und bedeutet „größere unbewaldete Fläche“. Die scharfen Übergänge zum Wald zeigen, dass es sich nicht um eine natürliche Waldgrenze handelt. Allein aufgrund der Höhe wäre der Feldberg nicht waldfrei; eine Waldgrenze wäre hier, etwa 100 km nördlich der nächstgelegenen Nordalpengipfel, auf einer Höhe von etwa 1650 bis 1700 m zu erwarten.

Dennoch gibt es eine Reihe von Sonderstandorten, die natürlicherweise, ohne menschliche Eingriffe, waldfrei sind, und die meisten Besonderheiten der Feldbergflora beherbergen. Zu diesen Sonderstandorten zählen Flachmoore, Übergangs- und Hochmoore, Felswände, Windheiden, Schneeböden in Nivationsmulden und Lawinenbahnen. Den Gipfelbereich umschließt ein Mischwald aus Buchen, Ebereschen, Bergahorn, Fichten, Weißtannen und Douglasien, wobei die Nadelbäume überwiegen.

Viele Lichtungen sind aber auf menschliches Eingreifen wie die früher verbreitete Waldweide zurückzuführen. Um jedes Gehöft gibt es außerdem große, waldfreie Nutzungsflächen. Dies ist auf die ehemals intensive Viehhaltung in diesen Regionen zurückzuführen. Das Vieh fraß die kleinen Bäume weg und verhinderte so ein Nachwachsen des Waldes. Heute ist dort Pioniervegetation, typischerweise mit Ebereschen, anzutreffen. Auch kleine Büsche und andere niedere Vegetation mit Krüppelwuchs (Magerrasen) ist vorhanden.

Erwähnenswerte Krautpflanzen sind die Arnika, der Alpen-Ampfer, der Alpen-Milch- und Alpen-Brandlattich, der Sumpf- und der Gelbe Enzian. Ferner findet man den Clusius-Enzian, der hier ursprünglich nicht heimisch war. Der Gelbe Enzian hat sich inzwischen jedoch so stark vermehrt, dass einmal im Jahr mit Hilfe des Bergwaldprojektes ein Drittel der Pflanzen entfernt werden und die Wurzeln einem örtlichen Brenner zur Herstellung des Enzian-Schnapses zur Verfügung gestellt werden. Der Grund ist der, dass der Gelbe Enzian wegen seines bitteren Geschmacks von den Rindern verschmäht wird und andere Futterpflanzen verdrängt. Auch bei anderen Arbeiten, wie der Beseitigung von Fichten in einem Feuchtgebiet werden Freiwillige des Bergwaldprojektes eingesetzt.

Die besondere Vegetation in den Mooren bildete sich im Zuge einer typischen Vegetationsabfolge. Nach der glazialen Exaration und der anschließenden Ablagerung von Endmoränen, welche seither, wie besonders am Feldseemoor, das Wasser aufstauen, entstand zunächst ein oligotrophes Niedermoor, in dem Schilfe und Gräser die Nährstoffe noch aus dem Grundwasser aufnehmen können. Aus abgestorbenen Pflanzen (biogene Sedimente) bildet sich Torf, und das Niveau des Moors hebt sich so allmählich über das Grundwasserniveau. Dabei entsteht ein Hochmoor mit ombrotrophen Pflanzen, welche vom Regenwasser abhängig sind und sich von den in der Atmosphäre verfügbaren Nährstoffen versorgen müssen.

Vielerorts wurden Bannwälder eingerichtet, die sich nunmehr naturbelassen entwickeln. An vielen Stellen wird Landschaftspflege betrieben, zum einen, um durch den Tourismus entstandene Erosionsschäden zu beheben und zum anderen, um die Landschaft für oft bestandsgefährdete lichtbedürftige Arten offenzuhalten.

Anthropogeographie

Der Mensch hat sich einige geologische Besonderheiten des Feldberggebiets zu Nutze gemacht. So wurde der Seebach, der aus dem Feldsee ins Tal fließt, für die Schwallflößerei aufgestaut. Die Landschaft wird durch Landschaftspflege offen und touristisch attraktiv gehalten und der üppige Waldbestand wird von der Forstwirtschaft genutzt, wenn auch nicht allzu intensiv.

Die Haupteinkommensquelle der Wirtschaft am Feldberg ist heute der Tourismus. Schätzungen gehen von 1 bis 1,5 Millionen Besuchern jährlich im Feldberggebiet aus. Dabei bestehen Zielkonflikte zwischen der touristischen Nutzung und den Belangen des Naturschutzes.

Sommertourismus

Der Berg ist Wanderern durch zahlreiche bewirtschaftete Berghütten (Baldenweger Hütte, Rinkenhütte, Zastler Hütte, St. Wilhelmer Hütte, Todtnauer Hütte, Naturfreundehaus Feldberg) und Wanderwege erschlossen, darunter der Felsenweg über dem Feldsee und der Alpine Pfad, die durch einige der letzten Landschaften alpinen Charakters im Schwarzwald führen. Der 12 Kilometer lange Feldberg-Steig führt um Gipfel und Feldsee. Daneben gibt es einige asphaltierte Zufahrtsstraßen zu den Gasthäusern und den anderen Einrichtungen am und um den Feldberggipfel.

Wintertourismus

Besonders starke Eingriffe in das Landschaftsbild bewirkte die bauliche Erschließung des Feldberggebietes für den Wintersport seit einigen Jahrzehnten. Das Feldberger Pistenskigebiet umfasst 14 Liftanlagen, fünf davon am Seebuck. Das Gebiet ist beliebt bei Skilangläufern, die unter anderem auf der Stübenwasenspur die Südabhänge von Feldberg und Seebuck zwischen Feldbergpass und Stübenwasen queren. Auch das Winterwandern mit Schneeschuhen ist weit verbreitet, und Snowkiting wird immer populärer. Skialpinismus stellt zwar die älteste Form des Wintersports im Gebiet dar, wird heute aber nur von relativ wenigen Skifahrern betrieben.

Alpine Gefahren

Der Feldberg wird in Bezug auf alpine Gefahren – wie viele Mittelgebirge – oft unterschätzt. Die leichte Erreichbarkeit durch öffentliche Verkehrsmittel, Auto und Seilbahn suggeriert Ungefährlichkeit. Oft sind Besucher unpassend ausgerüstet. Hauptgefahren im Feldberggebiet sind Wetterstürze, Sturm oder Ausrutschen auf glattem, vereistem Untergrund. In der Nähe von höheren Strukturen (Sendeanlagen etc.) besteht die Gefahr von Eisschlag. Bei nebligem Wetter kann die Sichtweite bis auf wenige Meter zurückgehen, so dass der Wegverlauf nicht mehr erkennbar ist. An den markierten Wegen außerhalb der Waldgebiete sind deshalb Stangen zur Orientierung aufgestellt.

In jedem Winter gehen mehrmals größere Lawinen im Feldberggebiet ab. Betroffen sind v. a. die Hänge des Zastler Tales, aber auch andere leeseitige Steilhänge wie im Feldseekessel am Seebuck, am Herzogenhorn und am Baldenweger Buck. Durch Schneefall vor allem bei westlichen Winden bilden sich an den windabgewandten Seiten Wechten (z. B. „Zastler Wechte“), die abbrechen können. Mehrere tödliche Lawinenverschüttungen sind bekannt, zuletzt im Januar 2015 mit zwei Toten. Für den Schwarzwald existiert kein spezieller Lawinenlagebericht.

Der Bergrettungsdienst im Feldberggebiet wird durch die Bergwacht Schwarzwald sichergestellt.

Wettermessung

Auf dem Gipfel des Feldberges, wo das Wetter seit 1915 gemessen wird, befindet sich seit 1937 eine Wetterbeobachtungsstation des Deutschen Wetterdienstes (WMO Kennziffer: 10908). Neben der Wetterstation befindet sich eine Wetterradaranlage, die ein Teil des Radarverbundes des Deutschen Wetterdienstes darstellt. Sie ist im 21 Meter hohen Friedrich-Luise-Turm untergebracht, der 1913 seinen baufälligen Vorgänger ersetzte und nach Großherzog Friedrich I. und seiner Gemahlin Luise von Preußen benannt worden war. Er musste im Jahr 1959 vom Schwarzwaldverein wegen der strategischen Bedeutung des Feldbergs verkauft werden.

Im Herbst 2012 wurde die Radaranlage im Luisenturm modernisiert. Um währenddessen dennoch Wetterdaten erhalten zu können, wurde im Mai 2012 ein provisorischer Stahlgittermast mit eigenem Radom installiert. Am 20. November 2012 wurde das neu im Luisenturm eingebaute Dual-Polarisations-Radargerät in Betrieb genommen. Gleichzeitig wurde das Ausfallsicherungsradar am 20. November 2012 wieder außer Betrieb genommen und der Gittermast in der darauffolgenden Woche abgebaut.[28]

Seit 1. Februar 2014 wird die Wetterwarte offiziell automatisch und ohne Personal betrieben.

Rezeption

Viele Künstler malten den Feldberg, darunter Hans Thoma (1839–1924) und Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805–1873), die in der Nähe des Feldbergs aufwuchsen. Die Maler Franz Eberlin (1896–1930) und Karl Hauptmann (1880–1947) zogen auf das Feldbergmassiv, um sich besser ihrer Arbeit widmen zu können. Zahlreiche Abbildungen stammen ebenfalls vom Lahrer Thoma-Schüler Wilhelm Wickertsheimer (1886–1968) sowie dem späteren Hinterzartener Hermann Dischler.

Darüber hinaus wurde der Hauptgürtelasteroid (10666) Feldberg nach dem Berg benannt.

(Wikipedia)

WHY ARE BELFAST HOTELS SO EXPENSIVE [EVEN THOUGH STERLING HAS DROPPED IN VALUE]-134105 by William Murphy

8 7

My comments relating to Belfast may appear to be somewhat negative but in general I would suggest Belfast as a worthwhile and interesting destination for any visitor to Ireland or the UK.

The interesting building featured in my photograph is the Malmaison Hotel and it is supposed to be very good.

In general my experience of hotels in Belfast has not been good and in some cases really bad. Based on experience I would advise visitors to avoid budget hotels in Belfast but a number of friends have suggested the the IBIS at Queens Quarter is excellent.

I should also mention that eating out in Belfast city centre is more expensive than Dublin and that may surprise many visitors from the South. There are two reasons for this: There is a special VAT rate of 9% for services in Republic compared with 20% in Northern Ireland also many restaurants in Belfast add 12.5% service charge and in theory you could refuse to pay this - even when you are charged the service charge the credit card machine will ask if you want to add a tip.

I have visited Belfast at least once per year since 2010 and up until about three years ago I could book two night stays for about Euro 100. Since 2014 I have stayed at the Ramada Encore which I do like. In 2016 I paid Euro 119 for two nights [I paid 2 Euro less in 2015] and in 2017 I paid Euro 161.36 for exactly the same room about two weeks before Brexit.

When I tried to book the Ramada for three nights in May 2018 the asking price was Euro 171 per night without the option of free cancellation] and this came as a shock considering that Sterling has dropped in value over the last twelve months.

I then decided that if I was paying that sort of money maybe I should considering other better hotels and eventually I booked two nights at the Malmaison at Euro 272 but a few days ago I discovered that the price was actually £272 [Euro 318 but with the option to cancel], I do not know how I made this mistake. I decided to look elsewhere and eventually managed to book two nights at the Bullitt for a much better price but it is still high.

Log Punt 'Queen II' (1914 - 1924) - painting by Ron Davis by glmrsnsw

1

This revised description of the log punt that ended up protecting John Sointu’s wharf on Wallis Island in the late 1950s has been prepared by Alan Wright and Chris Borough. Alan is a Director of the Great Lakes Co-operative Historical Society Ltd, is a member of the Wright shipbuilding family of Tuncurry and has a wealth of knowledge about the shipping history of the Great Lakes of NSW.

Other images relating to the log punt Wallis Lake are in the Album Wallis Lake or Queen?

This image was taken is part of the collection in the Great Lakes Museum and depicts the Queen II loading logs on the Wallinghat River that flows into Wallis Lake near Coomba. Queen II was thought to be constructed in 1914 after Queen I sank in Wallis Lake, near Bandicoot Island..

After a lot of thought Alan and Chris have concluded that the hulk protecting the wharf on Wallis island is the Wallis Lake built by Ernest Wright in 1924. Many reports have suggested that it is another of the Wright-built log punts - Queen.

Other images relating to the log punt are in the Album Wallis Lake or Queen?

Information on the log punts that were operated by Wright and McLaren and later John Wright and Co. Ltd. is scant with reports varying. This interpretation should not be relied upon to be completely accurate although the evidence provided is strong. Despite some reservations, the story of the hulk on Wallis Island story reflects a fascinating period in the history of the timber industry of the Great Lakes of NSW.

Early Log Punts

Early sawmillers employed teams to fell trees for logs that were dragged by bullock team from the forest to rivers and lakes. Here they were loaded onto log punts and taken to mills located on the waterfront at Tuncurry and Forster.

The puntmen who delivered logs to the sawmills at Tuncurry had to employ great caution and skill in mooring a fully loaded punt at the mill wharf as the tides moving into and out of Wallis Lake were strong - particularly coming down with the ebbing tide. The procedure was to throw out an anchor on the opposite sand spit, so that the punt swung around and faced upstream.

The first log punt built by John Wright at Tuncurry was the Nil Desperandum - a punt that was handled by man-power alone – typically a puntman using a long pole that he pushed into the mud and walked the length of the punt pushing on the pole.

Steam Punts

A series of four steam powered log punts were then built for the sawmilling operation at Tuncurry operated initially by Wright and McLaren and, after 1913, by John Wright & Co. Ltd.

These were:

- Queen I (circa 1897) - builder John Wright

- Queen II (believed to be built 1914) – builder Ernest Wright

- Wallis Lake (1924) - builder Ernest Wright

- Queen III (1948) - builder William Mann - Nabiac

John Wright constructs the steam punt The Queen I

Around 1897, John Wright constructed a much larger, steam powered, paddle-wheeler log punt that could operate regardless of the tide. She was the Queen of the Hawke (later known simply as the The Queen). The deckhouse was located at the rear – the two paddle wheels were located each side the deckhouse. Records from the Great Lakes Museum indicate that she was some 30 m long and 6 m wide on the deck. For convenience she is referred to as Queen I.

Cape Hawke Regattas

The first reference to the The Queen was in 1898 when she was used to bring people to the Cape Hawke Regatta on 26th January. “To reach the rendezvous, the steam punts belonging to the various sawmills are brought into requisition. The mill-owners always allow the use of their punts to convey passengers, free of charge. These punts are roomy— not too slow— well provided with awnings and seats, and suit admirably. Mr. Wright's 'Queen,' from Tuncurry; Messrs. Miles, Bros.' 'The Brothers' from Forster; Mr. Fenning's 'Wollomba,' from Wallamba River; Mr. J. Breckenridge's 'Wheelbarrow,' from Failford ; and Messrs. Goodlet & Smith's ' Coolongolook,' from the village of the same name, conveyed hundreds of people— all sorts and conditions of men, yes, and women, too— for the ladies of Forster and district take great interest in boating, and lend an additional charm to the great aquatic carnival by their presence in large numbers.”

The Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales (Taree, NSW : 1898 - 1954) - Sat 5 Feb 1898

She was initially given the name Queen of the Hawke but commonly this was abbreviated to simply the The Queen or Queen. Newspaper reports in 1899 reported the Queen of the Hawke taking people from Tuncurry to the famous Cape Hawke Regatta that was held every year around 26th January – Anniversary Day (now Australia Day

The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer (NSW : 1898 - 1954) - Wed 1 Feb 1899

The Queen - multi-tasked vessel

The The Queen performed many tasks other than the transport of logs and sawn timber and participants to the annual Cape Hawke Regatta. In 1901 four vessels helped raise the sunken log punt Wallamba - these were 'The Dart,' the s.s. 'Marian Mayfield,' the s.s. 'Ariel,' and the p.s. 'Queen.'

In 1904 Queen I travelled to Smiths Lake (presumably as far south in Wallis Lake as possible) as reported in the Manning Times - :

“The fishermen of Cape Hawke are congratulating themselves on having an ice factory in their midst — Mr. Coombes having brought his refrigerating plant and machinery down from Smith's Lake last week in Messrs. Wright and McLaren's steam punt [Queen].”

The Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales (Taree, NSW : 1898 - 1954) - Sat 7 May 1904

Log punt Queen sinks in 1914

In 1913 the partnership of Wright and McLaren was wound up and a new entity that incorporated various operations, was formed in 1913 – John Wright & Co. Ltd.

In 1914 it appears that Queen I may have sunk, near Bandicoot Island. “A severe south-easterly gale is raging here. Shipping is delayed. Wright and McLaren's steam punt, while crossing Wallace [Wallis] Lake yesterday, was caught by the gale and sunk, the crew escaping in a boat. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - Fri 19 Jun 1914

Graeme Andrews reported this after his journey on Wallis Lake in 1975: "The run from Pacific Palms to Forster is about 17 km and gives some idea of the size of the Wallis Lake. The lake is long enough and wide enough to build up big seas and, as it is never very deep - but enough for any boat likely to use it - the wind can build up steep seas very quickly.

As an example, about 1920, one of the paddle droghers "S.S Queen" was overwhelmed by the seas on the lake. Despite the efforts of her crew, short, small waves breaking over the flat deck gradually filled the craft, she sank and her superstructure stood above the surface for many years. Now the remains are just below the surface and are marked by only a small stick." (Australian Seacraft 1977)

Queen II constructed - 1914

Although there was a report in 1902 that a new log put was to be constructed after the Bellinger was completed, no reports of an actual construction have been located: "Messrs. Wright & McLaren are going to have a large new log punt constructed after their steamer [Bellinger] is completed, and the present punt is to do duty in connection with the Krambach mill. A large new wharf is also to be created at the Tuncurry mill, and also new stores." The Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales- Sat 25 Jan 1902

Although there are no press reports to confirm or reject our hypothesis, we have assumed that Ernest Wright constructed a new log punt (Queen II) shortly after the 1914 sinking of Queen I.

A new log punt Wallis Lake launched

In September 1924 a new log punt was launched, the Wallis Lake - built by Ernest Wright. "Mr. E. Wright has launched a new log punt which is an improvement on anything we have had here. Mr. Wright is master of this craft himself." The Northern Champion Wed 1 Oct 1924

The Wallis Lake continued operation until at least late 1954.

Queen III launched in 1948

The Queen III, built by William (Billy) Mann in 1948, operated for a relatively short time and was sold to Port Macquarie interests after fire destroyed the John Wright & Co. Ltd. Sawmill at Tuncurry in 1951.

Wallis Lake towed to Wallis Island

It is at this point that the idea that the Queen was put in place to protect a wharf arose.

Enter Ida Niemi

Ida Niemi was a member of a Finnish family headed by her cousin John Sointu. John built a house - Harmony Hill House - on Wallis Island in the late 1940’s and constructed a jetty. “When Ida heard one day, that they were sinking big droghers, she rowed over to Forster, saw the boss who owned the sawmill, and said she wanted a punt sunk near her wharf, to act as a barrier from bad weather. He agreed to do this provided she paid for it, so that he would not be liable for any damage that may be caused. He offered her the other “Queen”, and a price of two shillings was agreed. The drogher was brought around and sunk, and its remains can be seen today.”

Williamson (2002): We built a village – the Heritage of Coomba Park.

Graeme Andrews takes a trip on the launch Lake Wallis

In 1975 Graeme Andrews (well-known author on the vessels of NSW) and his wife Winsome took a trip on the Lake Wallis operated by Stan Croad. Stan had been operating his launch since 1946 when he obtained a contract to take schoolchildren to school. Later he operated a tourist service. Stan’s extensive observations and experience cannot be under-estimated and it was upon his advice that Graeme Andrews based his report.

“On the south-western end of Wallis Island is a grand and remarkable two-storey house. It is obviously old and apparently houses a Finnish family who have crops, cattle and the obligatory sauna. Their ‘wharf’ consists of the remains of the steam paddle lighter, or ‘drogher’ Queen. About 40 m long by 10 or 12 m wide, this craft is a wooden boat enthusiast’s dream. Much of the exposed timber remains showing grown timbers and adzed wood working. Stores and monies change hands and off we go again.” Tea and Scones on Lake Wallis - AFLOAT February 2012.

Given that the size of the Wallis Lake matches the measurements made by Graeme Andrews and the Wallis Lake was the last log punt operating from Tuncurry in the mid 1950s we believe that the wharf on Wallis Island was not made from the Queen II. No doubt, however, the issue of Queen vs Wallis Lake will not completely fade away!

So the Wallis Lake, built by Ernest Wright in 1924, lives on almost 100 years after she was built – a testimony to the work of the Wright family and to the quality of the Australian hardwood timbers used.

Image Source:

Black Diamond Images Collection

Acknowledgements

Approval to publish was granted by the Great Lakes Museum Capel Street, Tuncurry, NSW.

References:

Andrews, Graeme and Winsome - AFLOAT February 2012 Tea and Scones on Lake Wallis - Graeme and Winsome Andrews

Andrews, Graeme. An alternative to trailerboating - FERRY FROM FORSTER AUSTRALIAN SEACRAFT - April 1977.

Williamson, Wendy (2002). We built a Village - the heritage of Coomba Park. A Coomba Park Production.

Acknowledgements: Alan Wright of the Great Lakes Museum for his criticism and presenting a plausible explanation of this conundrum.

All Images in this photostream are Copyright - Great Lakes Manning River Shipping and/or their individual owners as may be stated above and may not be downloaded, reproduced, or used in any way without prior written approval.

GREAT LAKES MANNING RIVER SHIPPING, NSW - Flick Group --> Alphabetical Boat Index --> Boat builders Index --> Tags List

HIS HOLINESS Hazarat RIAZ AHMAD GOHAR SHAHI(M.A) addressing in Azad kashmir (part 6) by waseem ahmad

1. The spiritual entity Qalb

Prophecy and knowledge relating to this was granted to the Prophet Adam

In the Urdu language the fleshy meat, (the heart) is known as dil, and in Arabic it is called fawad. The spiritual entity that is next to the heart is the Qalb and according to a Prophetic statement the heart and the Qalb are two separate entities.

Our solar system is the physical human sphere. There are other realms and spheres, for example the realm of the angels, the realm of the throne of God, the realm of the soul, the realm of the secrets, the realm of unification and the realm of the essence of God. These spheres and life forms inhabiting these spheres have existed before the eruption of the ball of fire, our Sun, which created our solar system. Ordinary angels were created alongside the creation of the souls when God commanded "Be" but the Archangels and the spiritual entities (which are placed inside the human body at birth) have existed in these realms before the formation of our solar system.

Many planets in our solar system were inhabited but subsequently these life forms became extinct. The remaining planets and their inhabitants are awaiting their destruction. The Archangels and the spiritual entities (of the human body) were created seventy thousand years before the command "Be."

Of these spiritual entities God placed the Qalb in the realm of love. It is with this that a human being is able to become connected with God. The Qalb acts like a telephone operator between God and the human being. A human being receives guidance and inspiration through it. Whereas the worship and the meditation done by the spiritual entities themselves can reach the highest realm, the Throne of God, with the aid of the Qalb. The Qalb itself, however cannot travel beyond the realm of the angels, as its place of origin is the Khuld, the lowest heaven in the realm of the angels.

The Qalb’s meditation is from within and its vibrating rosary is within the human skeleton (the heartbeat). People that failed to achieve this meditation of the Qalb in this lifetime will be regretful, even though they may be in paradise. As God has stated regarding those who will go to paradise, that do they, the inhabitants of paradise think that they will be equal to those who are elevated (reached higher realms by practicing the spiritual disciplines and becoming illuminated). As those that have achieved the meditation of the Qalb, they will enjoy its pleasures even in paradise when their Qalb will be vibrating with the Name of God.

After death physical worship ceases to exist and the people whose Qalb and spiritual entities are not strengthened and illuminated with the light of God are afflicted and distressed in their graves and their spiritual entities waste away. Whereas the illuminated and strengthened spiritual entities will go to the realm where the righteous will wait before the final judgement.

After the day of judgement a second body will be given, the illuminated spiritual entities along with the human soul will enter that body. The people that taught their spiritual entities, meditation, whereby the entities chanted the Name of God Allah in this life time will find that the spiritual entities will continue with this meditation even in the hereafter. Such people will continue to be elevated and exalted in the hereafter.

Those that were “blind of heart” (not illuminated) in this life time will be in darkness in that realm also, as this world was the place of action and effort. Those in the latter category will become quiescent.

Besides the Christians and the Jews the Hindu faith also holds a belief in these spiritual entities. The Hindu faith refers to them as Shaktian and the Muslims know them as Lata’if.

The Qalb is two inches, to the left of the heart. This spiritual entity is yellow in colour. When it is illuminated in a person, that person sees the colour yellow in their eyes. Not only this but there are many practitioners of alternative medicine who use the colours of these spiritual entities to heal people.

Most people regard their heart’s word, “inner feeling” to be truthful. If the hearts of people were indeed truthful, then why are all the people of the heart not united?

The Qalb of an ordinary person is in the sleeping or unconscious state and it does not possess any appreciation or awareness. Due to the dominance of the spirit of the self, the ego, and the Khannas, or due to the individual’s own simple- mindedness the heart can make judgements in error. Placing trust in a sleeping Qalb is foolish.

Only when the Name of God Allah, does vibrate in the heart does an appreciation of right and wrong and wisdom follow. At this stage the Qalb is known as the awakened Qalb. Thereafter due to the increase in the meditation by the Qalb, of the Name of God Allah, it is then known as the God-seeking Qalb. At this stage the heart is capable of preventing the person from doing wrong but it is still incapable of making a right or just decision. Thereafter and only when the Light and the rays of the Grace of God (theophany) start to descend upon that heart, is it known as the purified and illuminated Qalb that stands in the presence of God (witnessing Qalb).

A Prophetic statement:

“The mercy of God descends upon a broken heart and an afflicted grave.”

Thereafter when the heart reaches this stage then one must accept whatever it dictates, quietly without question because due to the rays of the Light and the Grace of God the spirit of the self, (ego) becomes completely illuminated, purified and at peace. God is then closer to that individual than that person’s jugular vein.

God then says, “I become his tongue with which he speaks and I become his hands with which he holds.”

2. The Human Soul

Prophecy and knowledge relating to this was granted to the Prophet Abraham

This is on the right side of the chest. This is awakened and illuminated by the meditation and one-pointed concentration on it. Once it becomes illuminated, a vibration similar to the heartbeat is felt on the right side of the chest. Then the Name of God, Ya Allah is matched with the vibrating pulse. The meditation of the soul is done in this way. At this point, there are now two spiritual entities meditating inside the human body, this is an advancement in rank and status and is better than the Qalb. The soul is a light red in colour and when it is awakened, it is able to travel to the realm of the souls (the station of the Archangel Gabriel). Anger and rage are attached to it that burn and turn into majesty.

3. The spiritual entity Sirri

Prophecy and knowledge relating to this was granted to the Prophet Moses

This spiritual entity is to the left of the centre of the chest. This is also awakened and illuminated by the meditation and one-pointed concentration on it with the Name of God, Ya Hayy, Ya Qayyum. Its colour is white and in the dream state or by spiritual separation from the physical body “transcendental meditation” it can journey to the realm of the secrets. Now there are three spiritual entities meditating within a person and its status is higher than the other two.

4. The spiritual entity Khaffi

Prophecy and knowledge relating to this was granted to the Prophet Jesus

This is to the right of the centre of the chest. It too is taught the Name of God Ya Wahid by meditation. It is green in colour and it can reach the realm of unification. Due to the meditation of four entities one's status is further increased.

5. The spiritual entity Akhfa

Prophecy and knowledge relating to this was granted to the Prophet Mohammed

This is situated at the centre of the chest. It is awakened by meditating on the Name of God, Ya Ahad. It is purple in colour and it too, is connected to that veil in the realm of unification behind which is the throne of God.

The hidden spiritual knowledge relating to these five spiritual entities was granted to the Prophets, one by one and half of the knowledge of every spiritual entity was granted from the Prophets to the Saints of their time. In this way there became ten parts of this knowledge. The Saints in turn passed this knowledge on to the spiritually favoured (Godly) who then had the benefit of the sacred knowledge.

The apparent knowledge of the seen is connected to the physical body, the spoken word, the human realm and the spirit of the self, this is for the ordinary mortals. This knowledge is contained in a book that has thirty parts. Spiritual knowledge was also given to the Prophets by revelation brought by Gabriel and for this reason it is known as the spiritual Holy Scripture.

Many of the verses of the Qur’an would sometimes be abolished, since the Prophet Mohammed would sometimes mention matters relating to this “hidden spiritual knowledge” before ordinary people, which was only meant for the special and Godly. Later this knowledge passed on spiritually from the chest of one Saint to another, and now it has become widespread by its publication in books.

6. The spiritual entity Anna

This spiritual entity is inside the head and is colourless. It is by the meditation on the Name of God Ya Hu that this spiritual entity reaches its pinnacle. It is this spiritual entity that when it becomes illuminated and powerful it can stand in the Presence of God, face to face, and communicate with God unobstructed. Only the extreme lovers of God reach this realm and station. Besides this there are a few and extremely exalted people who are granted additional spiritual entities, for example the spiritual entity Tifl-e-Nuri or a spiritual entity of the Godhead, Jussa-e-Tofiq-e-Ilahi, the spiritual status of such people is beyond understanding.

With the spiritual entity, Anna, God is seen in the dream state.

With the spiritual entity of the Godhead, God is seen in the “physical meditating state” when the spiritual entity itself leaves the human body and transcends to the essence of God.

Those possessing the spiritual entity, the Tifl-e-Nuri, see God whilst they are fully conscious.

It is these people who are the majesty and power of God in the world. They can either occupy the people by prescribing worship and austerities or by their spiritual grace send a person straight to the realm of God’s love. In their sight, concerning dispensing spiritual grace the believers and the non-believers, the dead and the living are all the same. Just as a thief became a Saint, in an instant, by the passing glimpse of the Saint Sheikh Abdul-Qadir al-Jilani, similarly, Abu-Bakr Havari and Manga the thief, became instant Saints by the passing glimpses of such Saints.

The five major Messengers were given knowledge of the five spiritual entities separately and in order of their appearance, as a result of which spirituality continued to prosper. With whichever spiritual entity you practice meditation you will be connected to the corresponding Messenger and become worthy of receiving spiritual grace (from that Messenger).

Whichever spiritual entity receives the rays of the Grace of God (favour), the Sainthood granted to that spiritual entity will be connected to the corresponding Prophet’s spiritual grace.

Access to seven realms and gaining elevated spiritual status in the seven heavens is obtained through these spiritual entities.

The functions of the spiritual entities inside the human body

Akhfa: Due to the spiritual entity, Akhfa a person is able to speak. In its absence a person may have a normal tongue but will be dumb. The difference between human beings and animals lies in the presence or the absence of these spiritual entities. At birth, if the entity, Akhfa was unable to enter the body for whatever reason, then a Prophet appointed for the rectification of this ailment would be called to treat the condition as a result of which the dumb would start to speak.

Sirri: A person is able to see due to the spiritual entity, Sirri. If it does not enter the body the person is blind from birth. An appointed Prophet had the duty to find and place the spiritual entity into the body, as a result of which the blind would start to see again.

Qalb: Without the spiritual entity of the Qalb, in the body, a person is like the animals, unacquainted, far from God, miserable and without purpose. Returning this entity into the body was the task of the Prophets also.

The miracles of the Prophets were also granted to the saints, in the form marvels and mystical wonders as a result of which even the impious and liberal became close to God. When a spiritual entity is returned by any allocated Saint or Prophet, the deaf, dumb and the blind are healed.

Anna: When the spiritual entity, Anna, fails to enter the body, a person is regarded as insane even though the brain may be functioning normally.

Khaffi: In the absence of the spiritual entity, Khafi, a person is deaf, even if the ears are opened wide.

These conditions can be caused by other defects in the body, and can be treated. There is no cure in the case, where the defect is caused by the absence of the associated spiritual entity except where a Prophet or a Saint intervenes and cures the defect.

Nafs, self: As a result of the spiritual entity of the self (ego) a persons mind is occupied with the material world and it is because of the spiritual entity Qalb that a persons direction turns towards God. For more detail visit www.goharshahi.org or visit asipk.com and for videos visit HH rags

Can anyone relate? by nodouble - mostly away

6 40

You have never been ignored, until you are ignored by a cat!! Louis

lounging on couch.

HIS HOLINESS Hazarat RIAZ AHMAD GOHAR SHAHI(M.A) addressing in Azad kashmir (part 30) by waseem ahmad