View source for Harz National Park

{{Short description|National Park in Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, Germany}}
{{About|the national park|the highland area|Harz}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Harz National Park
| iucn_category = II
| logo          = Logo Harz Nationalpark.svg
| photo = Blick vom Brocken zum Wurmberg 3.jpg
| photo_caption = View from the Brocken summit
| location = [[Lower Saxony]] and [[Saxony-Anhalt]], [[Germany]]
| nearest_city =
| coordinates = {{coords|51|47|N|10|34|E|display=inline, title}}
| area_km2 = 247
| established = 1990, 1994, 2006
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = Nationalparkverwaltung Harz<br />Lindenallee 35<br />38855 Wernigerode
| website        = {{URL|https://www.nationalpark-harz.de/en/}}
}}
'''Harz National Park''' is a [[nature reserve]] in the [[Germany|German]] federal states of [[Lower Saxony]] and [[Saxony-Anhalt]]. It comprises portions of the western [[Harz]] mountain range, extending from [[Herzberg am Harz|Herzberg]] and [[Bad Lauterberg]] at the southern edge to [[Bad Harzburg]] and [[Ilsenburg]] on the northern slopes. 95% of the area is covered with forests, mainly with [[Norway spruce|spruce]] and [[European beech|beech]] woods, including several [[bog]]s, [[granite]] rocks and creeks. The park is part of the [[Natura 2000]] network of the [[European Union]].

In its current form, the park was created on January 1, 2006, by the merger of the Harz National Park in Lower Saxony, established in 1994, and the Upper Harz National Park in Saxony-Anhalt, established in 1990. As the former [[inner German border]] ran through the Harz, large parts of the range were prohibited areas, that apart from the fortifications had remained completely unaffected for decades. Today the park covers parts of the districts of [[Goslar (district)|Goslar]], [[Göttingen (district)|Göttingen]] and [[Harz (district)|Harz]].

Rare animals of the Harz National Park include the [[white-throated dipper]], the [[black stork]], [[peregrine falcon]], the [[European wildcat]] and especially the [[Eurasian lynx]]. The last lynx in the Harz Mountains had been shot in 1818, but in 1999 a project for reintroducing was established. Since 2002 several wild lynxes gave birth. An attempt to return the [[western capercaillie]] (''Auerhuhn'') however did not succeed.

== Geography ==
[[File:Torfhaus im Harz IMG 4575.jpg|thumb|View from [[Torfhaus]] to the [[Brocken]]]]
The 24,700 hectares of the Harz National Park cover about 10&nbsp;percent of the total area of the [[Harz]]. The park lies in the western part of the Harz (see [[Upper Harz]]) and stretches from Wernigerode and Ilsenburg in the north to [[Herzberg am Harz|Herzberg]] and [[Bad Lauterberg]] in the south. Near its perimeter the park terrain is about {{Höhe|230|DE-NN|link=true}} in the north and {{Höhe|270|DE-NN}} in the south and climbs to {{Höhe|1141.1|DE-NN}} at the summit of the Brocken.<ref>[http://www.nationalpark-harz.de/de/wirueberuns/ Nationalpark Harz: Wir über uns]</ref>

Several rivers have their sources in the national park, including the [[Bode (river)|Bode]], the [[Oder (Harz)|Oder]] and the [[Ilse (Oker)|Ilse]], a tributary of the [[Oker]]. The waters of the Oder, flowing southwards, are collected in the historic [[Oderteich]] reservoir, finished in 1722 to supply the [[mining|mines]] in [[Sankt Andreasberg]], and feed the [[Oder Dam]] on the southeastern edge of the park. Other dams and lakes within or bordering on the national park include the [[Ecker Dam]] and the [[Silberteich]]. The highest elevations are the [[Brocken]], the [[Bruchberg]] and the [[Achtermann]].

== History ==
The present, pan-state ''Nationalpark Harz'' was formed on 1&nbsp;January 2006 from the merger of the old park of the same name in Lower Saxony and the High Harz National Park (''Nationalpark Hochharz'') in Saxony-Anhalt. Since the merger the head of this major nature conservation area has been Andreas Pusch.

The Upper Harz National Park was established as part of [[East Germany|GDR]]'s national park programme on 1&nbsp;October 1990, two days before the [[reunification of Germany]], on the basis of a ministerial decision by the [[East German]] government. The park included large parts of the eastern [[Harz]], roughly from the [[Ecker Dam]] and the national park municipality of [[Ilsenburg]] in the north and [[Schierke]] in the south as well as the [[Brocken]]. The region is characterised by a relatively undisturbed plant and animal environment, which is mainly due to its location immediately next to the old [[Inner German Border]]. In the [[German Democratic Republic]] era, the Brocken was accessible until 1961 with an easily obtained pass. From 13 August 1961 it became an out-of-bounds area, which meant that tourists could no longer visit it. In the mid-1980s the first problems appeared in the Harz, such as [[bark beetle]] and fungal infestation. In the wake of the spirit of optimism during the time around reunification it was exactly this that gave impetus for the establishment of the national park. On 1 January 1991 a national park headquarters in Wernigerode was set up under the leadership of Hubertus Hlawatsch. Hlawatsch's successor was Peter Gaffert, who ran the eastern park from 1995 until its merger with the Harz National Park in the western Harz on 1&nbsp;January 2006.

The Lower Saxon part of the park was opened on 1&nbsp;January 1994 after four years of preparation. Its founding father was Dr. Wolf-Eberhard Barth. Although a combined national park project was discussed soon after reunification by both states it was another twelve years before the parks were merged.

The Harz National Park belongs to the European [[umbrella organisation]] EUROPARC Federation, a federation of  national parks, [[biosphere reserve]]s and [[nature park]]s. It concerns itself ''inter alia'' with the exchange of information, ustausch, advanced education and public relations. The German section, EUROPARC Deutschland, of this umbrella organisation has also organised the merger of many large conservation areas in Germany.<ref>EUROPARC Deutschland: [http://www.europarc-deutschland.de/verbandsphilosophie Verbandsphilosophie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306143450/http://europarc-deutschland.de/verbandsphilosophie |date=2008-03-06 }}, accessed on 31 March 2008</ref>

In 2005 the national park was included in the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas.

Currently the national park employs 188 staff, of which 59 work in the national park head office in Wernigerode or its outpost in Sankt Andreasberg OT Oderhaus. The 40 employees of the national park warden service, who are also known as rangers, conduct guided tours and look after tasks in connexion with environmental training, include the maintenance of information posts and national park buildings. (as at: 31 December 2007) <ref>Auskunft der Nationalparkverwaltung Fachbereich 1 in March 2008.</ref>

== Ecology ==

=== Flora ===
[[File:Scharfenstein 2.jpg|thumb|View of the Scharfenstein]]
The natural forests of the High Harz consist mainly of [[Norway spruce]] (''Picea abies'') and [[European rowan|rowan]] (''Sorbus aucuparia''); deciduous trees only dominate below {{Höhe|600|DE-NN|link=true}}. Since the Harz was partly [[deforestation|deforested]] in the 19th century by ore mining, the count's head forester, Hans Dietrich von Zanthier, developed the concept of reforestation with fast-growing spruce trees. This led to the now widespread spruce monocultures. Unlike "Harz pine", the pines introduced from other regions cope less well with snow and ice conditions in the Harz and are thus more prone to [[bark beetle]] infestation.

Currently 82 percent of the forest consists of spruce stands. Only 12 percent of the trees are beeches. The remaining 6 percent are species such as [[oak]], [[rowan]] or [[birch]] (as at December 2007).

There are various vegetation zones in the Harz National Park. In the sub-alpine area above 1050 metres is the "[[tree line|battle zone]]" of the spruce tree. Here it is not uncommon to find trees over 250 years old and bent into bizarre shapes by the wind. But predominant here are the [[dwarf shrub]] heaths and raised [[bog]]s (''Hochmoore''). The altimontane [[Altitudinal zonation|vegetation zone]] is found between {{Höhe|750|DE-NN|link=true}} and {{Höhe|1050|DE-NN}}, dominated by spruce. These areas can be found in the vicinity of Schierke and [[Torfhaus]]. Not until the montane zone between {{Höhe|450|DE-NN}} and {{Höhe|750|DE-NN}} and the submontane zone is the vegetation dominated by beech forests. Today's beech stands grow primarily on acidic soil. The most commonly encountered forest type is the ''Hainsimsen'' beech forest. At heights above 700 m it is usually adjacent to spruce-beech mixed woodland. But in the national park this area has shrunk to just a few residual stands and has been largely replaced by spruce. In the region of Ilsenburg spruce monoculture occurs even down to {{Höhe|230|DE-NN}}. In these zones the spruce is not native and, as a result of [[climate change]], it has suffered increasingly from bark beetle infestation. Currently the National Park Service is having these areas reforested to encourage the original beech and maple, that used to dominate them, to resettle.<ref>Auskunft vom Fachbereich 2 Forschung und Wissenschaft der Nationalparkverwaltung im März 2008</ref><ref name=Waldentwicklung>[http://www.nationalpark-harz.de/de/naturschuetzen/waldentwicklung/#intNavBreadcrumb Nationalpark Harz: Waldentwicklung]</ref><ref>[http://www.nationalpark-harz.de/de/naturschuetzen/waelder/#intNavBreadcrumb Nationalpark Harz: Wälder]</ref>

The Harz is home to the [[Pulsatilla alpina|Brocken anemone]] (''Pulsatilla alpina'' subsp. ''alba''), which grows in Germany only on the plateau of the Brocken. Its survival has however been especially endangered since [[German reunification]] by the onset of tourism. The [[Brocken Garden]], a [[botanical garden]] on the summit of the Brocken, deals mainly with the protection of plant species and restoration of the summit area.<ref>Vgl. Gunter Karste (2006): ''Der Brockengarten im Nationalpark Harz''. In: Sachsen-Anhalt 16 (2006), H. 4, p. 2–4. {{ISSN|0940-7960}}</ref>

Especially valuable for nature conservation, are the raised bogs formed by the restoration of former marshland. The conditions are favorable for this, as the bogs in the park are less impacted by human use than the bogs of the Lower Saxony plain. When wood became scarce in the Harz, the locals tried to take advantage of the peat bogs. This proved unprofitable due to the low [[calorific value]] of peat and the weather conditions in the High Harz. The bogs in the Harz are of international significance by virtue of their distinctiveness and flora.<ref>Vgl. Sabine Bernsdorf, Nadine Böhlmann, Ralph Meissner, Wolfgang Merbach (2003): ''Moorforschung im Harz; Entwicklung und Schutz der Moore im Nationalpark Hochharz''. In: [http://www.verwaltung.uni-halle.de/DEZERN1/PRESSE/jour-403.pdf Scientia Halensis 11 (2003), H. 4, p. 21–22, pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719103742/http://www.verwaltung.uni-halle.de/DEZERN1/PRESSE/jour-403.pdf |date=2011-07-19 }}. {{ISSN|0945-9529}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nationalpark-harz.de/de/naturschuetzen/moore/#intNavBreadcrumb Nationalpark Harz: Moore]</ref>

=== Fauna ===
[[File:Luchsstein.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Lynx Stone of 1818]]
[[File:Lynx lynx.jpg|thumb|The lynx – once more in the wild in the Harz]]
The [[European lynx|lynx]] now lives wild again in the Harz, having been eradicated from the mountains since the early 19th century. The last report of a successful lynx hunt in the Harz dates to 1818. In an eleven-day hunt, in which almost 200 people took part, a male lynx was brought down at [[Lautenthal]]. The so-called [[Lynx Stone]] recalls the success of that particular hunt. In 1999 it was decided to reintroduce the lynx. Between 2000 and 2004 alone, 19 were released from zoo breeding programmes. Before their release the animals are prepared in a large enclosure in order to acclimatized them to freedom. In addition there is a viewing enclosure near the National Park forest restaurant on the [[Rabenklippe]] where the shy cats can also be observed by visitors to the park. Since 2002, there have been several instances of kittens born in the wild. In March, a male lynx was fitted with a [[Global Positioning System|GPS]] transmitter, so precise details can now be obtained about the range of an animal. The project team receives information via SMS from the transmitter.

Another reintroduction project was the capercaillie, which died out in the Harz in 1920–1930. Its reintroduction began in 1978. Over the years about 1,000 birds have been reared and set free. In spite of the number of birds the population was not assessed as stable. Due to the lack of success, the project was closed in 2003.<ref>Vgl. Ralf Siano (2006): ''Überlebensdauer, Todesursachen und Raumnutzung gezüchteter Auerhühner (Tetrao urogalluns L.), ausgewildert im Nationalpark Harz''. In: Vogelwarte 44 (2006), H. 3, p. 145–158. {{ISSN|0049-6650}}</ref>

The Harz is now one of Germany's most important habitats for the [[European wild cat|wild cat]]. It is classified in the Federal Republic of Germany as seriously endangered. It is assumed that the wild cat in the Harz has a stable population. It is widespread throughout the region, preferring those areas which are warmer, richer, more varied and better supplied with nutrients (lower lying deciduous forest with greater food availability).

In addition to lynx and wild cat, [[red deer]] and [[roe deer]] are also important species in the Harz National Park.

The most common [[invasive species]] is the [[raccoon]], but occasionally the [[raccoon dog]] also occurs. The [[mouflon]], which was in the 1930s located in different districts of the Harz for hunting reasons, is also found in the park.

=== Ecological problems ===
[[File:Baumleichen4.JPG|thumb|Trees damaged by bark beetle]]
[[File:Braunlage - Wurmberg 01.jpg|thumb|Dead spruce forest (Picea abies) in Harz National Park]]
Recently, the Harz National Park has suffered from bark beetle outbreaks as well as acid rain and other environmental problems. The [[bark beetle]] is on the rise here due to climate change and global warming. Since 2006, there has been increased bark beetle gradation. [[Hurricane Kyrill]] also caused severe damage in the region. Stands of trees, especially spruce, were torn down over wide areas. The National Park management came under fire from the local communities as a result of the bark beetle measures that were subsequently needed. In particular, the National Park community at [[Ilsenburg]] criticized the use of technology (e.g. [[harvester (forestry)|harvesters]]). Because of the inaccessibility of the terrain there was really no other way to haul the wind blown tree trunks from the affected areas.<ref>Gemeinsames Faltblatt von Nationalpark Harz und NABU Sachsen-Anhalt zur Borkenkäferfrage im Nationalpark Harz:[http://sachsen-anhalt.nabu.de/themen/nationalparkharz/borkenkaefer/]</ref>

In the so-called natural development zone of the Harz National Park, which surrounds the core area, bark beetle measures are taken where necessary, and plantations are established where in order to encourage the natural development of the forest. To protect these beech and oak groves, national park wildlife management is required. Accusations that private or state hunts had taken place in the park turned out to be unfounded.<ref>Pressemeldung des Nationalparks Harz: [http://www.lifepr.de/pressemeldungen/nationalpark-harz/boxid-23238.html Keine „DDR-Staatsjagd unter dem Brocken“]</ref>

== Zoning ==
[[File:Rimg0832.jpg|thumb|left|140px|Ancient forest in the national park]]
The Harz National Park is recognised by the [[IUCN]] (World Conservation Union) as a [[national park]] (a Category II protected area in the IUCN system). To achieve that, according to the rules, at least 75&nbsp;per cent of the area must be set aside as a natural biodiversity zone (core zone). In this zone nature must be left completely to itself. If this proportion is not achieved the region can be classified as a so-called developing national park, if it is assessed as fulfilling these conditions within 30 years.

The Harz National Park counts as a developing national park. Currently 60,3&nbsp;per cent of the area of the park is designated as a natural biodiversity or core zone. The aim is to cross the 75&nbsp;per cent threshold by 2020.

38,5&nbsp;per cent of the park area is currently still a nature development zone. Here measures in lines with the forest development concept are carried out. The aim is to transfer the largest possible area of this natural development zone into the natural biodiversity zone.

A proportion of the park counts as a utilisation zone. This covers areas that are important for tourism or are historico-culturally significant, such as the Brocken summit or mountain meadows. Here conservation measures will also be applied in future.<ref>[http://www.nationalpark-harz.de/de/wirueberuns/gebietsgliederung/#intNavBreadcrumb Nationalpark Harz: Gebietsgliederung]</ref>

Furthermore, within a 500 metre wide strip on the edge of the national park, measures are being put into effect that will protect the adjacent areas.<ref name=Waldentwicklung/>
{{clear}}

== See also ==
{{portal|Harz}}
* [[:Category:Hiking trails in Germany|Hiking trails in Germany]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.nationalpark-harz.de/en/ Official site] {{in lang|en}}
* [https://en.harzinfo.de/pure-nature/harz-nationalpark-harz Official tourist-site] {{in lang|en}}

{{National parks of Germany}}
{{Nature parks in Lower Saxony}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National parks of Germany]]
[[Category:Harz]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Lower Saxony]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Saxony-Anhalt]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1990]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1994]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 2006]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in East Germany]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Germany]]
[[Category:2006 establishments in Germany]]
[[Category:Nature reserves in Lower Saxony]]
[[Category:Osterode (district)]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Germany]]