The healthy skepticism against such inflated promises, however, fails here. You don’t have to call it the "Stonehenge of the Ruhr area," but a climb to the Horizon Observatory and the sundial is definitely worth it.
Two gigantic arches elegantly span an area of 88 meters in diameter on the northern summit plateau of the spoil heap. Aesthetically impressive like other landmarks on the spoil heaps of the Ruhr area, the Horizon Observatory, however, focuses primarily on the sensual conveyance of knowledge. One arch stretches from the south over the zenith to the north point, the other follows as the celestial equator along the sun’s path from east to west. In the middle, one could look exactly over the horizon line, below which the surroundings sink according to distance, only visible by some chimneys. Even laypeople in astronomy could observe constellations here at night and – thanks to the lightly illuminated arches – also locate them. The subjunctive here currently necessitates a crack in the equatorial arch. This has led to the platform being closed until further notice.
The oversized sundial, modeled after ancient examples, with its shadow caster being an 8.5-meter high obelisk topped with a sphere, reliably shows the local time for Herten even now. Information regarding the astronomical observations that can be made from the spoil heap is provided by the initiative group Horizon Astronomy in the Ruhr area e.V. with folding templates for sundials and star charts. Between radio clocks and mobile phone alarms, the everyday significance of celestial observation may have faded into the background. However, this place makes this fundamental cultural technique visible and tangible.
The path to the 500-step staircase or to the gently rising serpentine roads to the spoil heap summit at 150 meters in height leads over an exotic-looking dragon bridge made of red and gray steel elements. Through its slightly winding ribs, one reaches the foot of the heap. All under the watchful gaze of a stylized dragon's head, which leans menacingly toward the pedestrian in a 180-degree turn.
The Hoheward spoil heap, as a landscape park and panoramic point of the Route of Industrial Culture, will continue to be developed in the future. By the end of 2012, inert rock will still be piled up on a part of the spoil heap. 150 million tons of material from the neighboring mines Ewald, Schlägel, Eisen, and General Blumenthal form the foundation of the new recreational area.
