The Eschkopf near Hofstätten in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate (Südwestpfalz county) is a major hill, 608.3 m above sea level (NHN)[1] high in the Palatine Forest.

Eschkopf
Summit of the Eschkopf with the Eschkopf Tower. Behind: the radar installation of Pfälzer Wald
Highest point
Elevation608.3 m above sea level (NHN) (1,996 ft)[1]
Prominence38 m [2]
Isolation13.9 km
Coordinates49°18′37″N 7°51′13″E / 49.31028°N 7.85361°E / 49.31028; 7.85361
Geography
Parent rangePalatine Forest
Biomepart of the Palatine Watershed
Geology
Rock ageabout 251–243 MYA
Mountain type(s)Sandstone: rocks of the Lower and Middle Bunter

Location

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The Eschkopf is part of the Frankenweide, a rock massif in the centre of the Palatine Forest. The main Palatine Watershed runs over its summit, which rises about 3.4 km south of the village of Hofstätten (Südwestpfalz county) and 3.6 km (both as the crow flies) south-southeast of the hamlet of Johanniskreuz in the neighbouring county of Kaiserslautern. The hill is the northernmost of a line of four peaks that exceed 600 m. To the south, in sequence, are the Mosisberg (608.9 m), the Hortenkopf (606.2 m) and the Weißenberg (ca. 610 m). From the Eschkopf it is possible to walk to Leimen, Kaiserslautern-Mölschbach, Elmstein and via the forester's lodges of Taubensuhl and Heldenstein almost as far as Neustadt an der Weinstraße on continuous hill ridges without dropping below the 450 metre contour line.

 
Inscription on the viewing platform of the Eschkopf Tower

References

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  1. ^ a b Map service of the Landscape Information System of the Rhineland-Palatinate Nature Conservation Office (Naturschutzverwaltung Rheinland-Pfalz)
  2. ^ "Eschkopf". Peakbagger.