Harz 157237 217276604 2008-06-05T10:19:37Z 82.44.127.3 {{Geobox|Range | name=Harz | map=Harz_map.png | map_size=300 | image= | image_size= | image_caption= | country=Germany | region=Lower Saxony | region1=Saxony-Anhalt | region2=Thuringia | geology=[[Paleozoic]] sedimentary, metamorphic and magmatic rocks | period= |orogeny=[[Hercynian]] | highest= The Brocken | highest_elevation_imperial= 3743 }} {{redirect|Harz Mountains|the district of the same name|Harz (district)}} The '''Harz''' is a mountain range in central Germany. It is the highest mountain chain in northern Germany occupying parts of the German states of [[Lower Saxony]], [[Saxony-Anhalt]] and [[Thuringia]]. The name ''Harz'' derives from the [[Middle High German]] word ''[[Hardt]]'' or ''[[Hart]]'' (mountain forest). ==Geography== The Harz has a length of {{km to mi|110 |wiki=yes}} (southeast to northwest) and a width of {{km to mi|35}}. It occupies an area of {{km2 to mi2|2226|wiki=yes}}, and reaches its highest point at [[The Brocken]] ({{m to ft|1141}}), situated in [[Saxony-Anhalt]]. The Wurmberg ({{m to ft|971}}) is the highest peak in the portion located in the state of [[Lower Saxony]]. Approximately 600,000 people live in towns and villages of the Harz mountains. <gallery> Image:Harzgipfel.jpg|Harz Image:Bodetal.jpg|[[Bode]] Image:Bodetal2.jpg|Bode Gorge Image:Rappbode3.jpeg|[[Rappbode Reservoir]] in the Harz region, Germany </gallery> 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 [[Harz National Park]] is located in the Harz; it covers the Brocken and surrounding wilderness areas. ==History== 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 [[mining|mine]]s became established in the following centuries throughout the mountains. During the [[Middle Ages]] ore from this region was exported along trade routes to far flung places such as [[Mesopotamia]]. 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 [[West Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]] (West Germany) and the east to the [[German Democratic Republic]] (East Germany). Today the Harz forms a popular tourist destination for summer hiking as well as winter sports. ==Towns in the Harz and near the Harz== {| | valign="top" | * [[Alexisbad]], Saxony-Anhalt * [[Altenau, Lower Saxony|Altenau]] * [[Bad Grund]] * [[Bad Harzburg]] * [[Bad Lauterberg]] * [[Bad Sachsa]] * [[Benneckenstein]] * [[Braunlage]] * [[Clausthal-Zellerfeld]] * [[Elend (Ort)|Elend]] * [[Gernrode]] | valign="top" | * [[Goslar]] * [[Hasselfelde]] * [[Herzberg]] * [[Ilfeld]] * [[Ilsenburg (Harz)]] * [[Lautenthal]] * [[Neustadt (Südharz)]] * [[Nordhausen]] * [[Osterode am Harz]] * [[Quedlinburg]] * [[Questenberg]] | valign="top" | * [[Rübeland]] * [[Sankt Andreasberg]] * [[Schierke]] * [[Seesen]] * [[Stolberg (Harz)|Stolberg]] * [[Suderode]] * [[Tanne]] * [[Thale]] * [[Treseburg]] * [[Walkenried]] * [[Wernigerode]] |} ==Transport in the Harz== The [[Harzer Schmalspurbahnen|Harz Narrow Gauge Railway]] is a very popular mode of transport, especially with tourists. Many people come to the Harz mountains just for this old fashioned [[steam train]]. Many cities around the Harz are also served by standard-gauge rail, including [[Halberstadt]], [[Wernigerode]], [[Thale]], and [[Quedlinburg]]. Aside from that, the Harz is connected to the rest of Germany by motorway A7 from [[Hamburg]], [[Hanover]] or [[Kassel]] to [[Seesen]]/Rhüden and [[Lautenthal]], A395 from [[Braunschweig]] to [[Bad Harzburg]], the national roads B6, B 27, B 234 and many others. The motorway A 38 south of the Harz mountains connecting [[Leipzig]] and [[Göttingen]] is currently partly finished, partly under construction. ==Rivers originating in the Harz== [[Bode River|Bode]], [[Grane River|Grane]], [[Holtemme]], [[Ilse (river)|Ilse]], [[Innerste]], [[Laute]], [[Oder (Harz)|Oder]], [[Oker]], [[Rhume]], [[Selke]], [[Söse]], [[Thyra River|Thyra]], [[Wipper (Saale)|Wipper]], [[Zorge]]. ==External links== * [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9039435/Harz Britannica] (English) * [http://www.harzregion.de/ Homepage of the ''Regionalverband Harz e.V.'', the Harz Regional Alliance] (German) * [http://www.harzsuche.de/ Basic information about the Harz] (German) * [http://www.nationalpark-harz.de/ The Harz National Park] (German) * [http://www.harz-travel.de/ Accommodations in the Harz Mountains] (German) *{{dmoz|World/Deutsch/Regional/Europa/Deutschland/Regionen/Harz/}} {{Commons|Harz}} {{coor title dm|51|45|N|10|30|E|region:DE_type:mountain}} [[Category:Mountain ranges of Germany]] [[Category:Forests and woodlands of Germany]] [[bs:Harz]] [[cs:Harz]] [[da:Harzen]] [[de:Harz (Mittelgebirge)]] [[et:Harz]] [[es:Harz]] [[eo:Harco]] [[eu:Harz]] [[fr:Harz]] [[it:Harz]] [[nl:Harz]] [[ja:ハルツ山地]] [[no:Harz]] [[nn:Harz]] [[nds:Harz (Middelbargen)]] [[pl:Harz]] [[ro:Harz (Mittelgebirge)]] [[ru:Гарц]] [[sr:Харц]] [[fi:Harz]] [[sv:Harz]] [[uk:Гарц]]