Today we will begin an exploration of some interesting items relating to the Harz Mountains region of Germany.

This area has a special interest to me as being the area in which my grandfather spent his formative years. I have found it to be a fascinating part of Germany, as being an area rich with history and lovely scenery, yet having sheltered on the eastern side of the Iron Curtain for some 50 years.

The Harz Mountains comprise the northernmost mountain chain of Germany. They straddle the border between the states of Lower Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt.

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 offers a mix of deciduous forests and meadows.

The mountain range is about 95 km long and some 35 km wide. The highest peak is the Brocken with a height at the summit of 1141 m.

Whilst the chain covers some 2,000 sq. km., the population in the area is much less than many other parts of Germany, with only about 600,000 people living in the towns and villages of the Harz mountains.

The history of the Harz region is “relatively” recent, with the dense forestation apparently precluding pre-historic settlements. Some of the earliest recorded activities in the region relate to the discovery of silver in the Goslar area around 1000 AD.

In later articles, I will tell more about the people, locations and special items of interest relating to this part of the world.

Submitted by John Kumm www.onlinetravelconsultant.com