The Harz National Park nature reserve is located in the Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt regions of Germany.

The reserve occupies large portions of the western Harz mountains with a total area of about 250 square km,and extends from Bad Harzburg in the north to Herzberg at the southern edge of the range.

The Harz is Germany’s most popular walking and holiday area. The central and eastern Harz, in the former East Germany, includes most of the finest country, including the High Harz National Park.

The area has associations with Goethe and witchcraft. The highest mountain, the Brocken, has a deep spiritual importance for the German people.

The eastern Harz is also known for its superb half-timbered towns such as Quedlinburg and Wernigerode, as well as one of Europe’s finest narrow gauge steam railway networks which offers excellent access to the whole area.

The current park was created in 2006 by joining the Harz National Park in Lower Saxony with the Upper Harz National Park in Saxony-Anhalt. The elevation is between 230 m and 1141.1 m, with some 95% of the area being covered with forest.

One of the future priorities in the management of the Harz National Park consists of carrying out environmental information and education services.
With its location, beautiful landscapes and natural characteristics, environmental facilities and topography, the Harz National Park region is one of the most significant recreational areas within Central Europe.

Rare animals of the Harz National Park include the dipper, black stork, peregrine falcon and especially the lynx. The lynx became extinct in the Harz Mountains in the early 19th century, but in 1999 a project for reintroducing the lynx was established.

Submitted by John Kumm www.onlinetravelconsultant.com