Upper Harz Water Management System
Oberharzer Wasserregal
Hundreds of ponds, ditches and tunnels built for mining between the 16th and 19th centuries. A World Heritage site best explored on foot along the water channel trails.
To drain the mines and drive waterwheels, miners in the Upper Harz spent centuries building some 143 artificial ponds, 500 kilometers of water channels and 30 kilometers of underground watercourses. Together they formed the largest pre-industrial energy system in the world, and in 2010 the network was inscribed on the UNESCO list as an extension of the Rammelsberg World Heritage Site. Centered on Clausthal-Zellerfeld, you can visit the Upper Harz Mining Museum and hike the “Water Trail” among the ponds around Buntenbock. It is about 35 km from Wernigerode, so driving is the more convenient option.
Opening hours
All day (museum approx. 10:00–17:00)
Nearby sights
- Market Church of the Holy Spirit, Clausthal
- Gustav Adolf Stave Church, Hahnenklee
- Rammelsberg Mine
- Frankenberg Church
- Siemens House
- Imperial Palace of Goslar
- Goslar Cathedral Porch (Domvorhalle)
- Mönchehaus Museum Goslar