Tags: World Heritage Site.
The Messel Pit (German: Grube Messel) is a disused quarry near the village of Messel (Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg Hesse) about 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Frankfurt am Main Germany. Bituminous shale was mined there. Because of its abundance of fossils it has significant geological and scientific importance. After almost becoming a landfill strong local resistance eventually stopped these plans and the Messel Pit was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site on 9 December 1995.
