Post by L Roebuck on Aug 15, 2006 6:52:42 GMT -5
German tourists fined for destroying unique ice cave
Ostrov, West Bohemia, Aug 14 (CTK) - Each of six German tourists who destroyed a unique natural ice gallery, part of the Vlci jamy nature path in Krusne hory last summer will be fined over CZK 25,000, the local municipal authority decided Monday.
The Germans dug ice and snow out of the cave, a protected natural site, and drove about 2 tonnes of it away on a lorry. They used the material in a snowman-building competition that had been launched by a German radio station.
After one year of investigation, the police learned the offenders´ names and addresses and handed the case over to the Ostrov municipality.
"We´ve sent our decision to Klingenthal, where two of the culprits live. It will be up to them either to appeal the decision or pay the fine," said Tomas Cepelak from the Ostrov Hall´s environment section told CTK.
Remnants of snow lie in the former tin-mining gallery these days, as nature failed to recover the stolen layer of ice.
"We´ll have to wait at least five or six years for the natural phenomenon to reappear in the cave," environmentalist Milos Hak said.
For centuries the open ice pit has served as a year-round source of ice. After the 1813 Battle of Nations at Leipzig, allied armies drew a large amount of ice from the cave to treat wounded soldiers´ pains.
Article
Ostrov, West Bohemia, Aug 14 (CTK) - Each of six German tourists who destroyed a unique natural ice gallery, part of the Vlci jamy nature path in Krusne hory last summer will be fined over CZK 25,000, the local municipal authority decided Monday.
The Germans dug ice and snow out of the cave, a protected natural site, and drove about 2 tonnes of it away on a lorry. They used the material in a snowman-building competition that had been launched by a German radio station.
After one year of investigation, the police learned the offenders´ names and addresses and handed the case over to the Ostrov municipality.
"We´ve sent our decision to Klingenthal, where two of the culprits live. It will be up to them either to appeal the decision or pay the fine," said Tomas Cepelak from the Ostrov Hall´s environment section told CTK.
Remnants of snow lie in the former tin-mining gallery these days, as nature failed to recover the stolen layer of ice.
"We´ll have to wait at least five or six years for the natural phenomenon to reappear in the cave," environmentalist Milos Hak said.
For centuries the open ice pit has served as a year-round source of ice. After the 1813 Battle of Nations at Leipzig, allied armies drew a large amount of ice from the cave to treat wounded soldiers´ pains.
Article