The Lorelei Plateau and the rock cliffs that tower above the Rhine River may lose their status as a World Heritage Site - because of a summer toboggan run.
It takes just two minutes to zip down the toboggan course - but the fact that the course is there at all was enough for UNESCO officials. At their latest meeting, they demanded that the toboggan course be removed. The track has never been popular with environmental activists - but in the end, developers managed to get all the required permits, and went ahead with the project. They have no intention of removing it. The dispute has put the World Heritage status of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley at risk. For more go to http://www.dw.de/program/european-journal/s-3065-9798.