photo #7148564

When Hans-Georg Arzt (Member 44,560) spotted this Stratocumulus cloud giant over Stuttgart, Germany, he thought immediately of the legendary mountain spirit known as Rübezahl. The spirit inhabited the Krkonoše, or the Giant Mountains, which run along the border of Poland and Czechia. Rübezahl was a rascally spirit who liked to cause mischief, but if you were good, he’d teach you medicine, give you presents, even share his recipe for mushroom soup. The soup part likely originated from a cloud formation rather different from this one. When a low flat blanket of cloud known as Stratus formed in mountain valleys overnight, some folks would say that Rübezahl had cooked up one of his tasty broths. Thanks to the profile Hans-Georg spotted in the evening Stratocumulus clouds, we can report that Rübezahl is still going strong. If you ask nicely, he might even fill a valley near you with his delicious signature Pilzcremesuppe.