Harz
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2008-06-05T10:19:37Z
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{{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]]
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[[de:Harz (Mittelgebirge)]]
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[[eo:Harco]]
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[[ja:ハルツ山地]]
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[[ro:Harz (Mittelgebirge)]]
[[ru:Гарц]]
[[sr:Харц]]
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[[uk:Гарц]]