In many parts of the Harz region, lakes nestled in the woods, idyllic ponds and well-maintained outdoor swimming pools invite visitors to enjoy a summer’s swim. These facilities combine the experience of nature with modern comforts – such as showers, changing rooms, catering facilities and well-tended sunbathing areas. Some outdoor pools are heated and run by local clubs, with special opening hours for early or late swimmers. Whether it’s a pond by the water’s edge or a swimming pool fed by spring water – the diverse range of options in places such as Altenau, Clausthal, Goslar, Halberstadt, Blankenburg and Bad Harzburg appeal equally to families, nature lovers and bathers. Children’s play areas, swimming and diving lessons, and family-friendly facilities are virtually standard. Numerous forest lakes and swimming ponds in the Harz Mountains even have nudist areas, such as in Elend or Bielen – a sign of the variety on offer.
Outdoor swimming pools and bathing spots include, amongst others: Altenbrak, Bad Frankenhausen, Bad Gandersheim, Bad Harzburg, Bad Lauterberg, Blankenburg, Darlingerode, Derenburg, Elend, Goslar (including the Oker), Halberstadt, Harzgerode, Hohegeiß, Hornburg, Ilsenburg, Langenstein, Lautenthal, Lonau, Nordhausen, Osterode, Riefensbeek-Kamschlacken, Rübeland, Scharzfeld, Sieber, Seesen, Sondershausen, Vienenburg, Wasserleben, Wernigerode, Westerhausen, Wieda, Wildemann, Wolfshagen and Zorge.
The forest lakes and bathing ponds include, amongst others: Altenau, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Ellrich, Elbingerode, Gernrode (Oster and Bremer ponds), Güntersberge, Hahnenklee, Halberstadt, Harztor / Neustadt, Hasselfelde, Herzberg (Juessee), Nordhausen/Bielen, Schladen and Walkenried.
