Upper Harz Water Management System

Since August 2010, the Upper Harz Water Management System has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage, as the largest and most important pond and ditch system in the world. Started in the Middle Ages, it was the decisive source of power for mining in the Upper Harz for over 800 years. It provided water power mainly for ore extraction and operating pumps. Today, 107 ponds, 310 km of ditches, and 30 km of underground watercourses are preserved, of which 65 ponds, 70 km of ditches, and 20 km of watercourses are still in use carrying water. On hiking trails and narrow paths, in mines, and in the Cistercian Museum Walkenried Abbey, you can discover this special World Heritage Site as a unity of culture and nature.

In the UNESCO World Heritage site, a wide range of tours is waiting for you. A tailor-made guided experience can be arranged for you – two hours, half a day, a full day, or even longer if you like.

On the adventure tours underground, you can explore the hidden world of ore mining in the Upper Harz. Start your guided experience at the UNESCO World Heritage InfoPoint at the Upper Harz Mining Museum in Clausthal-Zellerfeld, at the UNESCO World Heritage exhibition of Harzwasserwerke GmbH at the Kaiser Wilhelm II shaft – or at a location of your choice.

There are now several partners offering guided hikes. These include, for example

• the guided tours organised by the Upper Harz Mining Museum
• the World Heritage hikes run by the Harz adventure team
• the guided experiences with certified forester Christian Barsch