Limhamns kalkbrott, Naturreservat

Limhamn limestone quarry is a unique site in Malmö. The area is a result of the industrial mining of lime for the production of cement. Now nature has begun to take over, but even today there are still many reminders of the lime mining from the mid-19th century until 1994. The unique lime environments contain a number of rare animals and plants. Visits are only allowed with a guide. But in the northeast corner there is a lookout point with a nice overview of the whole area.

Industrial history

The limestone quarry is about 1300 meters long, 800 meters wide and 65 meters deep. If you walk around the quarry, you have made a walk of 4 kilometers. Mining of the area began in 1866 and continued until 1994. The last blast was in 1993. Since the turn of the year 2010-2011, Limhamn limestone quarry is a municipal nature reserve.

Fossils in the limestone quarry

The limestone in Limhamn's limestone quarry was formed in a warm sea between 65-62 million years ago. It consists mainly of deposits from microscopic coccoliths (algae), bryozoans (bryozoans) and corals. In some layers of limestone there are plenty of shark teeth, from sharks that swam around here millions of years ago. Fossils of two crocodiles have also been found in the limestone quarry.

Unique habitats with rich flora and fauna

There are more than 2,000 different species in the quarry's special habitats. Several of the species are rare or special in some way. Most notable is the presence of the red-listed green spotted toad and the limestone rattlesnake.

There are many birds of prey in the area, including peregrine falcons and brown harriers. Other nesting bird species include raven, dunlin, bearded tit, little ringed plover, gray heron and barn swallow. A regular winter visitor is the common tern. In the past, the evenings in the quarry have been filled with the mighty hooting of a barn owl. Unfortunately, this male now seems to be gone.

Deer, hare, fox and badger are examples of mammals found in the quarry. Many different species of bats have also been found there.

More than 450 species of beetles have been found in the limestone quarry, including several rare species and one that is new to northern Europe. Many kinds of dragonflies have also been found, including the very unusual small coastal dragonfly, which sometimes appears in its thousands down in the quarry.

Access

To access the area, you must be accompanied by a guide. Guided tours can be booked on the City of Malmö website. Link to another website, opens in a new window](http://www.malmo.se/vildamalmo) The walking tours take about two hours, the bus tours take about one and a half hours.

Viewpoint

In the northeast corner there is a viewpoint with a nice overview of the whole area. It is always open to the public. A tip is to visit this place when darkness has fallen in late winter / early spring when the chance is great to hear the powerful hooting of the mountain owl. There is a parking lot next to the lookout. The nearest bus stop is Malmö Kalkbrottet. Remember to take your rubbish home.