Heinrichshöhe
| Heinrichshöhe | |
|---|---|
 TheBrockentoron the Heinrichshöhe | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,040 m abovesea level (NN)(3,410 ft) |
| Prominence | 12 m→Brocken[1] |
| Isolation | 0.45 km→Brocken |
| Coordinates | 51°47′22″N10°37′45″E/ 51.78944°N 10.62917°E |
| Geography | |
  Heinrichshöhe | |
| Parent range | Harz Mountains |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Granite |
| Climbing | |
| Access | 1744: Peat works established near summit |
TheHeinrichshöheis asubsidiary peakof the highest mountain in the Harz, theBrocken,and, at1,040 m above NN,[2]it is the second summit in theHarz Mountains.
Today, it may only be visited with permission from the national park authority for the purposes of research or controlling the wildlife population.
Location[edit]
The Heinrichshöhe lies in theHarz National Parkabout 3.2 kilometres north-northwest of the village ofSchierkein the southwestern part of the borough ofWernigerode.The summit rises about 1.4 kilometres southeast of the top of the Brocken and at least 205 metres northeast of near the Brocken Road (BrockenstraßeorBrockenchaussee,K 1356) betweenEckernlochstiegandUrwaldstieg.Near the summit on its southern flank is the tor ofBrockentor( "Brocken Gate", 1,039.5 m).[3]
History[edit]
The mountain was named after CountHenry Ernest (Heinrich Ernst) of Stolberg-Wernigerode,who had a peatworks established on the Heinrichshöhe in 1747. The buildings of the peatworks, including visitors’ accommodation, burnt down in 1799.
TheHeinrichshöhe Way(German:Heinrichshöhenweg) is the oldest documented track to the Brocken. It was first mentioned in the records in 1591 and ran roughly parallel to the present day Brocken Road. From the top of the Heinrichshöhe it runs straight to the summit of the Brocken. In the First World War a Ski monument (Skidenkmal) was built alongside the track, not far from theBrockenteich.It is number 19 in theHarzer Wandernadelhiking system.
At the highest point of the mountain there is a roughly 5 m highgranitetor.In 1936 an inscription was carved in the rock by theBrockenschutz( "Brocken Guard" ).
The nameBrockentorstems from the 18th century when the first Brocken inn was built immediately next to the tor.
The Heinrichshöhe was a popular destination in the Harz until the 1960s. After the wall was built it ended up in the out-of-bounds area. Following thereunification of Germanythe Heinrichshöhe Way was closed.
Gallery[edit]
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Inscription on theBrockentor -
The Brocken as seen from the Heinrichshöhe (2008). -
Ruins of the peat huts -
Ski monument (Skidenkmal) 600 m northwest of the Heinrichshöhe -
Ruins of the peat huts
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^"Heinrichshöhe".Peakvisor.
- ^Goedecke, Richard (2003).Auf Tour im Harz,Kompass Wanderwegweiser, Deutsche Wanderverlag, Stuttgart, p. 62.ISBN3-8134-0211-8.
- ^Heinrichshöhe (Gipfel)at geofinder.ch. Accessed on 9 Dec 2010.