rock face
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rock face
A steep, often vertical or almost vertical surface of rock, as found on mountains, cliffs, or in quarries.
Erfahrene Kletterer wagten den Aufstieg an der steilen Felswand.
Experienced climbers dared to make the ascent on the steep rock face.
The word 'Felswand' (rock face) is a direct compound of 'der Fels' (a large rock) and 'die Wand' (wall). So it literally describes a wall made of rock.
Die Bergsteiger planten ihre Route entlang der massiven Felswand.
The mountaineers planned their route along the massive rock face.
The most common preposition used with 'Felswand' (rock face) is 'an' (on/at). You use 'an der Felswand' (on/at the rock face, dative) for a position and 'an die Felswand' (onto/to the rock face, accusative) for movement toward it.
An der Felswand wachsen seltene Pflanzen.
Rare plants grow on the rock face.
'Felswand' (rock face) is often connected with mountaineering activities. Typical verbs are 'an einer Felswand klettern' (to climb on a rock face), 'eine Felswand erklimmen' (to scale a rock face), or 'sich von einer Felswand abseilen' (to rappel down from a rock face).
Nur sehr erfahrene Alpinisten können diese Felswand ohne Sicherung erklimmen.
Only very experienced alpinists can scale this rock face without safety equipment.
wall
'die Wand' and 'die Felswand' can both mean a steep surface of rock. 'die Felswand' is more specific because it is immediately clear that it refers to rock in nature. 'die Wand' is more general: it can also be a wall in a room. In a climbing or mountain context, however, 'die Wand' can also mean a rock face. The words can be confused because 'Wand' can be used there as a short form for a steep rock surface. If the context is not clear, 'Felswand' is safer and more precise.
Nach dem Regen war die Felswand zu nass zum Klettern.
After the rain, the rock face was too wet for climbing.
Die Gruppe suchte eine leichte Route an der Wand.
The group looked for an easy route on the rock face.