WasserWanderWay Zellerfeld artificial ditch
- 3:10 h
- 12.07 km
- 149 m
- 150 m
- 453 m
- 597 m
- 144 m
- Start: Parking lot Großen Kellerhalsteich on B 241 Zellerfeld - Goslar
- Destination: Parking lot Großen Kellerhalsteich on B 241 Zellerfeld - Goslar
The water ditches in the Upper Harz are true masterpieces of construction. This can be especially well seen on this 12 km circular route at the Zellerfeld artificial ditch. Walls made of natural stones, small bridges, and stone arches show how much effort the miners put into building the ditches.
Water was very valuable for mining in the Harz. The water wheels in the mines were needed, for example, to bring the ore mined underground to the surface. A lot of water was required for this. The water had to be directed into the mines. And there always had to be enough water, even when it rained little or not at all.
The mines near Zellerfeld were very high up on the mountain. Therefore, the water had to be led from even higher areas to the mines. These higher areas are very far away. That is why the ditch runs a long way through the Harz. It passes ponds, stony and dangerous places in the water, and a waterfall.
On your hike, you will also learn what log floating in the Harz is and how it worked.
At the end, the ditch disappears underground. There it goes directly into the Zellerfeld mining district. From here, you go down into the Spiegeltal valley and back up along the river.
Good to know
Best to visit
Directions
The circular route starts at the Großer Kellerhalsteich. Walk 100 meters along the road towards Zellerfeld. From there, it goes slightly uphill onto the ditch embankment. This is the path next to the ditch. The path always follows the ditch up to the Stadtweger Pond. There it goes over the elevated meadows near Zellerfeld.
Directions & Parking facilities
Parking lot at the Großer Kellerhals Pond
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
info@welterbeimharz.de
www.welterbeimharz.de
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, Old Town Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management brochure in DIN long format, presenting the related 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 location of the World Heritage overall. Price: 2.00 € Available at all tourist information centers in the region or online at shop.harzinfo.de.
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
A highlight in the Spiegeltal is the waterfall. It was also formed when people built an artificial ditch.
Nearby
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