This WHS consists of three parts: the Historic Town of Goslar, the Mines of Rammelsberg and the Upper Harz Water Management. Goslar and Rammelsberg are well described by the previous reviews, so I will focus on the extension in 2010. The Upper Harz Water Management is a sophisticated water distribution system, which was used in the 16th to 19th Century by the miners to drive pumps and water wheels. A major problem for the miners was the infiltration of water into the shafts and tunnels. Hydro power was used to remove it: “raising water with water” was the principle. The first ponds and dams have been built 800 years ago by monks (Abbey Walkenried is also part of the WHS). Today, more than 60 ponds, many dams, and kilometres of ditches and water tunnels are still visible.

The area extends over about 200 square kilometres south of Goslar, most of the ponds are around the town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld. There I bought a hiking map and chose some places that seemed to be the most interesting. I was travelling by car, so it was easy to get there. In the village Bockswiese, I hiked along four ponds on different levels that were connected by historical ditches. Other nice places are the “Carler Teich” (Carl Pond, west of Zellerfeld) and the “Pfauenteiche” (Peacock Ponds, south east of Clausthal). The "Carler Teich" is one of the few ponds where the so-called “Striegelhaus” has been preserved until today (photo). These small huts were connected by a footbridge with the dam. From the Striegelhaus once the simple device to open and close the outflow of the reservoir was operated. Next to the dam you can also visit the reconstruction of a historic flatrod system with a water wheel.

My visit was in August 2009, it was a warm summer day and I really enjoyed the hike through woods and across meadows. When the weather is fine, I can recommend to spend there a whole day out in the green.