Source of the Loue

A gem that makes you quiet.

In calcareous areas, erosion caused by sun, rain, wind, water and frost creates bare plateaus with the occasional stone lump, fissures, deep fissures and steep erosion valleys. Part of the acidic (CO2-containing) precipitation water penetrates through the crevices into the deeper soil. The acid rainwater dissolves the lime from the limestone in the following way: insoluble calcium carbonate CaCO3 In CO2-containing water is converted into calcium bicarbonate Ca(HCO3)2, which is soluble in water. This process is reversible: increasing the CO2 content promotes the dissolution of lime and lowering the CO2 content causes lime to precipitate, such as in the form of stalactites and stalagmites in dripstone caves. Crevices can further develop into cavities, underground lakes and rivers. The fissures are called karst fissures; karst pipes are created by the collapse of a cavity not so far below the surface. The karst pipe has an open “mouth” on the surface. All limestone massifs show cracks and fissures, this whole is called a Karst landscape”. Because the water seeps away quickly in the crevices, the surface of this rock usually remains dry.

Over time, not only underground caves, lakes and passages are created, but also underground rivers. For example, in 1901, during a fire in an absinthe factory, located on the Doubs near Pontarlier, it was discovered that the water of the Loue smelled of anise. Further investigation confirmed that the Loue is a so-called "outgoing" river that was then fed by part of the water of the Doubs that was mixed with the absinthe-rich firewater.

Leonard van Bakel