Harz

The Harz is a mountain range in northern Germany. The northernmost mountain chain of Germany, it straddles the border between the states of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from a Middle High German word meaning "forest".

Related Topics:
Mountain range - Germany - Lower Saxony - Saxony-Anhalt - Thuringia - Middle High German

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Harz has a length of 95 km (southeast to northwest) and a width of 35 km. It occupies an area of about 2000 km², and reaches its highest point at the Brocken (1141 m), situated in Saxony-Anhalt. The Wurmberg (971 m) is the highest peak in the Lower Saxony part. 600,000 people live in towns and villages of the Harz mountains.

Related Topics:
Brocken - Wurmberg

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:Harzgipfel.jpg|Harz

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:Bodetal.jpg|Bode

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Image:Bodetal2.jpg|Bode Valley

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Harz is divided into the Upper Harz (Oberharz) in the northwest and the Lower Harz (Unterharz) in the southeast.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Upper Harz has a higher elevation and features fir forests, while the Lower Harz gradually descends towards the surrounding land and has deciduous forests mingled with meadows.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The settlement of the Harz began only 1000 years ago. In ancient times dense forests made the region inaccessible. 968 saw the discovery of silver deposits near the town of Goslar, and mines became established in the following centuries throughout the mountains. The wealth of the region declined after these mines became exhausted in the early 19th century. People abandoned the towns for a short time, but prosperity eventually returned with tourism. Between 1945 and 1990 an international border ran through the Harz, the west belonging to the FRG and the east to the GDR. Today the Harz forms a popular tourist destination for summer hiking as well as winter sports.

Related Topics:
968 - Silver - Goslar - Mine - 19th century - 1945 - 1990 - FRG - GDR

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Two national parks exist in the Harz: the Harz National Park in Lower Saxony, and the Hochharz National Park in Saxony-Anhalt. Both national parks signed an agreement to merge in 2005. The source of the Oker river lies in the Harz.

Related Topics:
Harz National Park - Hochharz National Park - Oker

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~