Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
0 comments 
Have You Ever Imagined Walking on Streets Paved with Diamonds? It Sounds Like a Fairy Tale, but It Is the Reality of This City of Diamonds, Where Millions of Precious Stones Adorn Walls and Streets.
Have you ever imagined walking on streets paved with diamonds? It sounds like a fairy tale, but it is the reality of the city of Nördlingen, in Germany. With its charming houses and red roofs, the city is literally a city covered in diamonds. Although the precious stones are tiny and visible only under a microscope, they are there, transforming Nördlingen into a unique and brilliant destination. Keep reading to learn more about this city of diamonds.
From Volcanic Crater to City of Diamonds
In the 9th century, the first inhabitants of Nördlingen believed they were settling in a volcanic crater. They had no idea that the stones used in the construction of their houses were filled with diamonds. The true origin of the crater was, in fact, extraterrestrial.
About 14.5 million years ago, an asteroid over 800 meters in diameter collided with the Bavaria region, leaving a 25 km wide crater. The impact was so intense that it transformed carbon bubbles in the bedrock into millions of tiny diamonds. This phenomenon also resulted in the formation of a rock called suevite, which contains crystals, glass, and diamonds.
-
Research vessel departs from Fortaleza this Sunday for a 35-day mission to map the Brazilian ocean floor and search for unknown marine species, two-ton robot on board can descend up to 6,500 meters deep.
-
Goodbye traditional washing machine: Changhong surprises and launches a version with panda-inspired design, artificial intelligence that identifies fabrics, triple cleaning, adaptive sensors, automatic programs, and a smart home ecosystem to transform the laundry room.
-
Study reveals how Andean communities survived for generations in areas with arsenic-laden water and developed DNA protection
-
The Earth’s core is younger than the surface for a reason that seems like fiction, but involves Einstein, gravity, and a 2.5-year difference in the planet’s clock.
The Discovery of Diamonds
For centuries, the locals did not pay attention to the sparkle of their houses at sunrise. It was only in the 1960s that two American geologists, while studying the landscape, realized that the city of diamonds was not a volcanic crater, but rather an impact crater. After detailed research, they confirmed that the crater was formed from the top down, thus changing the scientific understanding of the region.
One of the most impressive landmarks in Nördlingen is the St. Georgs Church, which is built entirely of suevite and contains around 5,000 carats of diamonds. Although they are extremely small, with a maximum size of 0.3 mm, the diamonds cause the church to shine softly as it captures sunlight.
Interest from NASA and the Scientific Community
The discovery of diamonds attracted the attention of NASA, which sent astronauts from the Apollo 14 and Apollo 16 missions to study the crater. They wanted to better understand the types of rocks they would find in space and which ones were worth bringing back to Earth. Today, a lunar sample collected by one of these missions is on display at the local museum in Nördlingen, and the city continues to receive visits from astronauts and scientists interested in its unique features.
Today, Nördlingen, with over 19,000 inhabitants, is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world. The city is home to the Reis Crater Museum and the Bavarian Saw Museum, in addition to offering guided tours of its brilliant architecture. The fascinating history of Nördlingen as a city covered in diamonds continues to attract both tourists and researchers from NASA and the European Space Agency.
City Covered in Diamonds: A Combination of Science and Mystery
Visiting Nördlingen is like stepping into a modern fairy tale. The city of diamonds in Bavaria offers a unique combination of history, science, and natural beauty. Walking through its streets is a singular experience, knowing that you are literally stepping on millions of tiny diamonds, the result of a cosmic event millions of years ago.
If you are looking for a stunning and different destination, the city of Nördlingen in Germany is a must-see. Not only for its beauty but also for its incredible history that combines the science and mystery of an asteroid impact with everyday life in a charming German town.
Be the first to react!