Welcome

Being the first National Park in Germany covering two federal states since 2006, the Harz National Park in its eastern part in Sachsen-Anhalt consists of 8,900 ha land and was set up in 1990. In 1994, the federal government of Niedersachsen established the western part of this park, covering 15,800 ha. This means that the united Harz National Park consists of abt. 24,700 ha now. The park is part of the European nature conservation network „Natura 2000“.

The Harz National Park stretches from the low mountain range near Herzberg in the southern part of the mountains, across the Harz massif to its northern slopes near Bad Harzburg and Ilsenburg. It offers the entire range of characteristic ecological systems, variations in height, slopes and rocks. Height varies from abt. 240 m in the north and 270 m on the southern edge up to 1,141 m on the Brocken peak. The park offers an ecologically complex landscape and contains different vegetation zones.

The Harz National Park is virtually uninhabited, but does contain some hamlets. Nearly all the land within the park is forested and belongs to the federal states.

Scientific research has identified numerous habitats which are - based on Middle-European standards - quite close to natural state, such as the high and middle regions or zones of the Harz, rocky biotopes, a lot of running water and a large beech, spruce and mixed forest area. In several sections however ecological changes in afforestation must be carried out, in order to get closer to original, natural forest conditions.

One of the priorities in the future for the Harz National Park consists of carrying out environmental information and education services. With its geographical location, beautiful landscapes and characteristic natural, environmental set-up and layout, the Harz National Park region is one of the most significant recreational areas within Central Europe. The Harz Tourist Federation calculates more than 5 million overnight stays and approximately 10 million visits to the park area and its adjacent towns a year. A group of 40 rangers and several National Park Visitor Centres contribute a great deal to the services for the guests.