- 0:10 h
- 661 m
- 17 m
- 17 m
- 710 m
- 726 m
- 16 m
- Start: Oderteich Parking Lot on B 242 Clausthal - Braunlage
- Destination: Oderteich Parking Lot on B 242 Clausthal - Braunlage
The Oderteich is the largest of all Upper Harz ponds and the highlight of hydraulic engineering in the Upper Harz. The dam is 21 meters high and made of huge granite stones. For 171 years, the Oderteich was the largest reservoir in Germany.
The reservoir was built in 1722. It is very different from the other ponds in the Harz. The information boards along the way tell you what is so special about it. For example, why the dam is built from huge granite stones. Or what people did during freezing winters in the High Harz.
If the pond has little water, you can see where they took the granite stones for construction at that time.
The Oderteich was important for the mines in the Harz. The huge water wheels in the mines needed a lot of water throughout the year.
The water from the Oderteich is still channeled through the Rehberger Graben to Sankt Andreasberg up to the Samson Mine. Until 1910, the water from the Oderteich powered the water wheels in the Samson Mine. Today, the water is used in the hydroelectric power plant, where electricity is produced.
Good to know
Pavements
Best to visit
Directions
The WasserWanderWeg is only 800 meters long and starts at the Oderteich parking lot on federal highway B 242. You first walk over the dam. Behind it, you cross to the other side of the road and then walk along the flowing water to the foot of the dam. From there, you can walk back up to the parking lot.
From here, you can also do the approximately 5 km long circular route around the entire Oderteich.
Equipment
Please remember to wear sturdy footwear.
Directions & Parking facilities
Parking facilities at the Oderteich.
Additional information
Upper Harz Mining Museum
Bornhardtstr. 16
38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld
Tel. 05323 98950
info@oberharzerbergwerksmuseum.de
www.oberharzerbergwerksmuseum.de
UNESCO World Heritage Foundation in the Harz
Bergtal 19
38640 Goslar
Tel: 05321 750 114
Literature
Martin Schmidt: WasserWanderWege – A Guide through the Upper Harz Water Regale – UNESCO World Heritage, 4th edition, Papierflieger Verlag GmbH, Clausthal-Zellerfeld 2012, ISBN 978-3-86948-200-2 UNESCO World Heritage - Rammelsberg Mine, Goslar Old Town, and Upper Harz Water Management brochure in DIN long format, presenting the associated tourist facilities along the Upper Harz water management with a short text and photos. On the back are three overview maps showing the World Heritage routes, the tourist destinations, and the overall location of the World Heritage site. Price: €2.00 Available at all tourist information points in the region or online at shop.harzinfo.de.
Author
Lea Dirks
Organization
Harz: Magische Gebirgswelt
License (master data)
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
A short walk leads you past the side of the Oderteich to Oderbrück. Between the rentable ski huts, the Kaffeeklappe offers a small refreshment.
Nearby
