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{{Short description|Mountain range in the German state of Thuringia}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name              = Thuringian Forest
| other_name        = Thüringer Wald
| photo             = Vom Schneekopf nach Oberhof - panoramio.jpg
| photo_size        =
| photo_caption     = View from Schneekopf towards Oberhof
| map_image         = Thüringer Wald - Deutsche Mittelgebirge, Serie A-de.png
| map_size          =
| map_caption       = 
| region            = [[Thuringia]]
| country           = Germany
| geology           = sedimentary, metamorphic, magmatic
| period            = Paleozoic
| orogeny           = Variscan, Saxonian
| highest           = [[Großer Beerberg]]
| elevation_m       = 983
| range_coordinates = {{coord|50|40|N|10|45|E|type:mountain_dim:150000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates       = {{coord|50|39|34|N|10|44|42|E|type:mountain_dim:150000|format=dms|display=inline}}
}}
The '''Thuringian Forest'''<ref>Elkins, T H (1972). ''Germany'' (3rd ed.). London: Chatto & Windus, p. 288-9. {{ISBN|9780701106515}}.</ref><ref>Kohl, Horst; Marcinek, Joachim and Nitz, Bernhard (1986). ''Geography of the German Democratic Republic'', VEB Hermann Haack, Gotha, p. 7 ff. {{ISBN|978-3-7301-0522-1}}.</ref> (''Thüringer Wald'' in [[German language|German]] {{IPA|de|ˈtyːʁɪŋɐ ˈvalt|pron|De-Thüringer Wald.ogg}}) is a mountain range in the southern parts of the [[Germany|German]] state of [[Thuringia]], running northwest to southeast.  Skirting from its southerly source in foothills to a gorge on its north-west side is the [[Werratal|Werra valley]].  On the other side of the Forest is an upper outcrop of the [[North German Plain]], the [[Thuringian Basin]], which includes the city of [[Erfurt]].  The south and south-east continuation of the range is the highland often called the [[Thuringian Highland|Thuringian-Vogtlandian Slate Mountains]].{{efn|The geological divisor runs from [[Gehren]] via [[Großbreitenbach]] to Schönbrunn, defined by the rivers Schleuse and Neubrunn on the southwestern slope, and Talwasser, Wohlrose and Möhre on the northeastern slope.}}

Among scattered foothills at its northern foot are the towns [[Eisenach]], [[Gotha]] and [[Arnstadt]]. The towns of [[Ilmenau]] and [[Suhl]] sit in slight dips on the range itself to the north and south respectively.

== Geography and communications ==
The Thuringian Forest forms a continuous chain of ancient rounded mountains with steep slopes to both sides and poses ample difficulties in transit routing save through a few navigable passes. It is about {{convert|70|km|mi|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide.<ref name = "bergmannsverein">{{cite web | url = http://www.bergmannsverein-erfurt.de/main.php?content=uebersicht_heute | title = Thüringer Bergbau heute | language = de | access-date = 23 January 2017 | publisher = Bergmannsverein Erfurt}}</ref> The highest elevation is ''[[Großer Beerberg]]'' at {{convert|982|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level.

The ''[[Rennsteig]]'' (sometimes called ''Rennweg'') is an ancient path following the main ridge and connecting the summits. It is now a famous hiking path and marks the traditional boundary between the [[hill]]s-dominated terrain of central Germany and the more rugged terrain characteristic of southern Germany, and also the boundary between the cultural regions of central and north [[Thuringia]] and [[Franconia]]. Dialects and traditional customs and costumes are different on either side of the Rennsteig. The Rennsteig is the subject of the song ''[[Rennsteiglied]] ([[:de:Rennsteiglied|de]])'', the unofficial [[hymn]] of Thuringia.

Motorway [[Bundesautobahn 4|A 4]] passes north of the Thuringian Forest, while [[Bundesautobahn 71|A 71]], intersecting the former south of [[Erfurt]], crosses the range from the northeast to the southwest, passes under the ridge in the [[Rennsteig Tunnel]] near Oberhof, and is joined near [[Suhl]] by [[Bundesautobahn 73|A 73]]. Two more long-distance roads, ''[[Bundesstraße]]n'' 19 and 84, pass over the western parts of the range, while ''Bundesstraße'' 88 skirts the northern foothills between Eisenach and Geraberg.

The [[Neudietendorf–Ritschenhausen railway]] crosses the Thuringian Forest in [[Brandleite Tunnel]] between Gehlberg and Oberhof, the [[Eisenach–Lichtenfels railway|Werra Railway]] between Eisenach and Eisfeld does so in a tunnel near [[Förtha]]. Both are in daily operation. A third line, the southern section of the Plaue–Themar railway, does not use a tunnel, but crosses the mountain ridge at Rennsteig [[Zig zag (railway)|switchback]] station. It has only been used by museum trains since 1998. The [[Nuremberg–Erfurt high-speed railway]], due to be commissioned in December 2017, crosses the Thuringian Forest with the help of several tunnels and bridges.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.vde8.de/Bauabschnitte------_site.site..ls_dir._nav.806_likecms.html | title = Die Bauabschnitte der VDE 8.1 Neubausstrecke (sic!) Ebensfeld – Erfurt | publisher = DB Netz AG, Verkehrsprojekt Deutsche Einheit Nr. 8 | year = 2017 | access-date = 3 February 2017}}</ref>

Thüringerwaldbahn, a [[Interurban|cross-country line]] of the [[Trams in Gotha|Gotha tramway]] network, serves the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest between [[Gotha]] and [[Bad Tabarz]], including a branch to [[Waltershausen]].<ref>{{cite book | author = Bernd Blickensdorf |display-authors=etal | title = 75 Jahre Thüringerwaldbahn, 110 Jahre Straßenbahn Gotha | location = Gotha | year = 2004}}</ref>

== Geology ==
=== Overview ===
[[File:Thuringian Forest Geology.png|thumb|left|Geological map of Thuringian Forest]]
Geologically, the Thuringian Forest is defined by a belt of strongly uplifted and deformed [[Metamorphic rock|metamorphic]] and [[igneous rock]] that divides the relatively flat sedimentary plains of the ''Thüringer Becken'' (to the northeast) from similar rock formations in the valley of the [[Werra]] (to the southwest). It consists of a large [[fault block]] in [[Variscan orogeny#Nomenclature|hercynian]] orientation, which consists from [[sandstone]]s and [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]]s of [[Rotliegend]] age in its western parts (Eisenach trough), followed by [[granite]]s and [[gneiss]]es of the ''Ruhlaer Kristallin'' formation of early [[paleozoic]] origin which were uplifted in the Rotliegend era, and the conglomerates, sandstones, and abundant [[volcanic rock]]s ([[rhyolite]]s and [[andesite]]s) of the Oberhof trough.<ref name = "bergmannsverein"/> Ore deposits associated with the upthrust of the range have been of significant historical importance in the development of the region, for example, the metalworking tradition in [[Suhl]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eisenstrasse.de/ |title= Erkenntnisse zum Bergbau in der Region Suhl |publisher= Verein für Archäologie und Denkmalpflege e. V. Suhl |access-date= 3 February 2017}}</ref> and the mining history of [[Ilmenau]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.museum-digital.de/thue/index.php?t=sammlung&instnr=19&gesusa=167 |title= Collection: "Der Ilmenauer Bergbau" |publisher= museum-digital thüringen |access-date= 3 February 2017}}</ref>

The uplift of the [[Horst (geology)|horst]]-like fault block was part of the Saxonian tectonic processes and is understood as a long range effect of the [[Alpine orogeny]]. It began in the upper [[Cretaceous]] era and ended in the late [[Tertiary (period)|Tertiary]] after about 40 million years.

Thuringian forest is surrounded on three sides by triassic rocks: the [[Thuringian Basin]] in the northeast, the [[Hesse Highlands]] in the west, and the northeastern parts of the [[South German Scarplands]] in the south, and by the [[Variscan orogeny|Variscan]] rocks of the [[Thuringian Highland]] towards the east. The geological borders differ from the geographical ones insofar, as the Rotliegend rock of the Thuringian forest finds its continuation in the Masserberg and Crock block in [[Hildburghausen (district)|Hildburghausen district]], southeast of the main range, and the rock types of the Thuringian Highland are also found in the Schleuse horst between Schönbrunn reservoir and Schönau, and in the Vesser complex near [[Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig|Schmiedefeld]], an island of Variscan rocks embedded in Rotliegend. While the near-surface rocks of the Thuringian Highland comprise mostly the [[Fold (geology)|folded]] Variscan [[Basement (geology)|basement]], the oldest unfolded overlying strata (dating from the Permosilesian age) of this basement are exposed in the Thuringian forest. Common to both ranges, but also to other low mountain ranges in Central Europe uplifted at the same time, are the bordering [[Zechstein]] deposits which contain [[Bryozoa]] reefs. These stretch especially wide on the northwestern edge of the Thuringian forest, where the landscape park of [[Altenstein Palace]] is located on one of the largest Zechstein reefs in Germany.

=== Eisenach trough ===

[[File:Lower Permian fanglomerate.jpg|thumb|left|Permian conglomerate of the Eisenach formation from an alluvial fan below Wartburg castle]]
The Eisenach trough is part of the much larger Werra basin, which in turn is part of the Saar-Unstrut depression of [[Cisuralian|early Permian]] origin. It was uplifted as one of the fault blocks in the Saxonian tectonic era<ref name="VoigtTIF">{{cite book | author = Sebastian Voigt | title = Die Tetrapodenichnofauna des kontinentalen Oberkarbon und Perm im Thüringer Wald - Ichnotaxonomie, Paläoökologie und Biostratigraphie | location = Göttingen | year = 2005 | pages = 308 | isbn=3-86537-432-8}}</ref> and is filled with Variscan [[molasse]]s, named ''Eisenach formation'' after the location. It consists mostly of monotonous sequences of reddish [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerates]] representing a proximal [[alluvial fan]] which originated in debris flows from the Ruhla anticline. Dated in the upper Rotliegend, the Eisenach formation consists of some of the youngest geological units in the Thuringian forest. The lack of volcanic rocks suggests that at the time of the deposition of the Eisenach formation, no significant tectonic processes took place in the Werra basin which was by then a mostly consolidated depositional environment.<ref name="VoigtTIF"/>

=== Ruhla anticline ===
[[File:WAK Ruhla 037a.jpg|thumb|Outcrop of amphibolite and mica schist of the Ruhla Group of the Ruhla Crystalline Complex in a former quarry]]
In the Ruhla anticline the basement rocks, folded in the Variscan era, are exposed. They are named ''Ruhlaer Kristallin'' after the location and are according to [[Franz Kossmat]] considered part of the Central German Crystalline Zone, of which [[Odenwald]] and [[Spessart]] are also constituents.<ref name="HenKat">{{cite book | author = Dierk Henningsen, Gerhard Katzung | title = Einführung in die Geologie Deutschlands | issue = 7th issue | publisher = Spektrum Akademischer Verlag | location = München | year = 2006 |isbn=3-8274-1586-1}}</ref> In the Rotliegend era the region formed the crest of a mountain range where the debris originated that was deposited in the Eisenach trough and the northwestern part of the Oberhof trough.

The sedimentary, volcano-sedimentary, and magmatic rocks which were deposited or formed in the area from the Cambrian until the upper [[Devonian]] were subjected to intense [[Metamorphism|metamorphosis]] during the Variscan uplift and are now mostly present in the form of [[gneiss]] or [[schist]].<ref name="ZehExFu">{{cite book | author = Armin Zeh | title = Exkursionsführer in das Kyffhäuser Kristallin und Ruhlaer Kristallin | year = 2005 | pages = 44 | url = http://www.mineralogie.uni-frankfurt.de/petrologie-geochemie/mitarbeiter/zeh/downloads/exkursionsfuehrerhighquality.pdf }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>

=== Oberhof trough ===
[[File:Thuringia Tambach-Dietharz asv2020-07 img29 Falkenstein.jpg|thumb|left|Falkenstein near Tambach-Dietharz, consisting of volcanites of Oberhof formation]]
The Oberhof trough is by far the largest of the main geologic parts of the Thuringian Forest. It consists of the uplifted part of the so-called ''Thuringian Forest Basin'' whose contents can be further subdivided into several formations. Their relative ages have not been fully resolved yet, partly because the Oberhof trough had been a [[rift]] zone with intense tectonics and continual changes of the internal relief and of the main areas of deposition.<ref name="VoigtTIF"/> The tectonic processes were accompanied by an intense [[felsite|felsitic]] volcanism which was the origin of many volcanic rock formations, predominantly rhyolites of [[Porphyry (geology)|porphyric]] structure with accompanying [[tuff]] deposits. These volcanic rocks alternate in sequence with the typical reddish molasse sediments (conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones, and claystones) of the Rotliegend.

=== Little Thuringian Forest ===

The [[Little Thuringian Forest]] (German: ''Kleiner Thüringer Wald'') is a narrow horst south of [[Suhl]] and northwest of [[Schleusingen]], northwest of Schleuse river, embedded in the [[Triassic]] foothills of Southern Thuringia. It is oriented roughly parallel to the Thuringian Forest and, while a separate structure, is geologically very similar to the latter, as it consists of the same rock types such as granite, [[hornfels]], porphyrites, Rotliegend and Zechstein sediments, and thus forms part of the [[Variscan chain]].<ref>{{cite book | author = Martin Meschede | chapter = Deutschland im Perm und Mesozoikum | title = Geologie Deutschlands | pages = 103–159 | date = 24 March 2015 | publisher = Springer | location = Berlin and Heidelberg| bibcode = 2015gede.book.....M }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author = Maximilian Tornow | title = Die Geologie des Kleinen Thüringer Waldes | publisher = Schade | year = 1907}}</ref> It is about {{convert|11|km|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1|km|abbr=on}} to {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}} wide, with an average altitude of 460 m. Mining for [[fluorite]], [[baryte]], and [[limonite]] has been attempted there on several occasions, but was given up as unprofitable due to difficult drainage. Large baryte deposits prospected in the 1950s have remained untouched.

=== Waltershausen Foothills ===

The Waltershausen foothills (German: ''Waltershäuser Vorberge'') are a wooded chain of [[Buntsandstein]] hills immediately north of and parallel to the Thuringian Forest between Eisenach, Waltershausen, Friedrichroda, and Georgenthal.  An outcrop of [[Muschelkalk]] rock can be found in their northern part, south of Waltershausen. They are generally regarded a part of the [[Thuringian Basin]],<ref>{{cite book | author = Emil Meynen, Josef Schmithüsen | title = Handbuch der naturräumlichen Gliederung Deutschlands | publisher = Bundesanstalt für Landeskunde | location = Remagen and Bad Godesberg | year = 1953–1962}}</ref> but with numerous deeply eroded river valleys and the dense forestation they resemble very much the Thuringian Forest.

== Climate ==
The Thuringian Forest is located in the Central European transition zone between the Atlantic [[oceanic climate]] and the [[continental climate]] of Eastern Europe. Humid air arrives mainly from the west, so that the western slopes and the crest of the chain experience the highest levels of precipitation. While the exception of the northwestern part with its lower altitudes (650&nbsp;mm), the yearly precipitation reaches about 1000&nbsp;mm, in the higher parts up to about 1300&nbsp;mm. In contrast, the leeward Thuringian Basin is one of the driest regions in Germany with only around 460&nbsp;mm to 590&nbsp;mm of precipitation per year. As the Thuringian Forest forms a barrier to the main weather currents, erosion is strong and has led to a more pronounced relief than in many other of the European low mountain chains.

The mean temperatures decrease with altitude:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Altitude
! Thuringian Basin
! 500 m
! 700 m
! 900 m
|-
! July
| 18&nbsp;°C
| 15.5&nbsp;°C
| 14&nbsp;°C
| 12.5&nbsp;°C
|-
! January
| -0.5&nbsp;°C
| -2&nbsp;°C
| -3&nbsp;°C
| -4&nbsp;°C
|-
! Yearly average
| 8.5&nbsp;°C
| 6.5&nbsp;°C
| 5&nbsp;°C
| 4&nbsp;°C
|}

While the Thuringian Basin experiences less than 100 days per year with temperatures below 0&nbsp;°C, this number rises to more than 150 in the upper altitudes of the Thuringian Forest.

== Natural regions ==
=== Northwest Thuringian Forest ===

The Northwest Thuringian Forest comprises an area of about 70&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> reaching heights up to {{convert|470|m|abbr=on}}, hardly exceeding those of the adjacent [[Buntsandstein]] forelands to the southwest, but exhibiting a much more pronounced relief. It stretches until ''Moosbach'' stream, a tributary or Erbstrom river, in the north east, and to [[Bundesstraße]] 19 in the east and south, which follows the upper reaches of Elte river between the villages of Wilhelmsthal and Etterwinden. The predominant rock species is ''Eisenacher [[Rotliegend]]'', namely [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerates]] and [[sandstone]]s. The area is known for the so-called ''Drachenschlucht'', a narrow gorge near Eisenach, and the [[Wartburg]] castle. The northern part of the area is drained by several streams into the [[Hörsel]], the southern part into the Elte. Hence, the ridge of the Northwestern Thuringian Forest only forms the [[Drainage divide|watershed]] between Hörsel and the middle course of the [[Werra]].

Notable summits include:
* Großer Drachenstein (470 m)
* Wartberg (about 390 m, north of the main ridge), site of [[Wartburg]] castle

The much larger natural region of Central Thuringian Forest with an area of about 850&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, whose ridge rises mostly above {{convert|600|m|abbr=on}}, is subdivided into several parts described below in their sequence from the north-west to the south-east.

=== Ruhla Thuringian Forest ===

This part, situated around the town of [[Ruhla]] north of the ''Rennsteig'', is geologically formed by the [[Basement (geology)|basement]] rocks of the ''Ruhlaer Kristallin'', consisting of [[granite]]s, [[gneiss]], and [[schist]]. There is no pronounced ridge, summits on both sides of the watershed reach heights of {{convert|700|m|abbr=on}} or more. Its northeastern parts drain towards the Hörsel, the southwestern parts towards the middle course of the Werra. The area is limited towards the south-east by state road 1027 between Schwarzhausen and Bad Liebenstein.

Notable summits include:
* Birkenheide (717 m, immediately south of Rennsteig)
* Glöckner (702 m)
* Windsberg (671 m), foothill of Birkenheide and site of Altenstein castle
* Ringberg (639 m) with ''Alexanderturm'' (observation tower)

=== Brotterode Thuringian Forest ===

Reaching until [[Tambach-Dietharz]], the part of Thuringian forest around the town of [[Brotterode]] is geologically more heterogeneous than the region around Ruhla. State road 1026 between [[Friedrichroda]] and [[Floh-Seligenthal]] which follows the valleys of the rivers Schilfwasser and Schmalkalde and passes through [[Kleinschmalkalden]] and state road 1028 between Georgenthal and Floh-Seligenthal which follows the valleys of the rivers Apfelstädt and Flohbach divide the area into segments. In this area the mountain ridge becomes more pronounced. The summit of [[Großer Inselsberg]] of volcanic origin causes a marked shift of the ridge towards the north. South of Georgenthal, the mountain range becomes the watershed between Elbe and Weser.

Notable summits include:

* [[Großer Inselsberg]] (916.5 m) between Brotterode and Tabarz, popular tourist destination
* Großer Weißenberg (747 m), location of a [[tripoint]] between the former countries of [[Saxe-Meiningen]], [[Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]], and [[Electorate of Hesse|Kurhessen]] and of today's districts [[Gotha (district)|Gotha]], [[Schmalkalden-Meiningen]], and [[Wartburgkreis]].
* Gerberstein (728 m) with an outlook platform

=== Tambach-Oberhof Thuringian Forest ===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-09641-0005, Oberhof, II. Wintersportmeisterschaften, Vorbereitungen zum Bobfahren.jpg|thumb|East German winter sport championships in [[Oberhof, Germany|Oberhof]], February 1951.]]
The [[Bundesstraße 247|B 247]] from [[Luisenthal]] via Oberhof and [[Zella-Mehlis]] to [[Suhl]], which follows the [[Ohra]] to the north, a section along the [[Lichtenau (river)|Lichtenau]] to the south and finally the lower reaches of the [[Hasel (Werra)#Nebenflüsse|Mühlwasser]], together with the slightly more than 10&nbsp;km long L 1028 road that runs parallel to it to the northwest separates this natural sub-division of the Thuringian Forest from the rest. Apart from the south, this region is traversed by very few public roads and is only populated in the south – in the villages of [[Schnellbach (Floh-Seligenthal)|Schnellbach]] and [[Struth-Helmershof]] in the municipality of [[Floh-Seligenthal]], the [[Rotterode]], [[Unterschönau]] and [[Oberschönau]] suburbs of [[Steinbach-Hallenberg]] and the town of Zella-Mehlis.

The [[Elbe-Weser watershed]], accompanied by the ''Rennsteig'', reaches heights of around 900&nbsp;m at several places southwest to west of Oberhof, but does not really form any individual mountains and has very much the character of a mountain crest. By contrast, the [[Großer Hermannsberg]] and Ruppberg (see below) that rise to the southwest of the ridge are better known and popular tourist destinations. To the northeast, where the terrain gradually flattens out, are two of the 3 largest reservoirs in the Thuringian Forest (see below). The best known rock formation in the mountain range, the [[Falkenstein (Thuringia)|Falkenstein]], is also found in this area.

[[File:Gebrannterstein1.jpg|thumb|left|The main crags on Gebrannter Stein (897&nbsp;m)]]
[[Image:ruppberg gipfel bank.jpg|thumb|View from the Ruppberg near [[Zella-Mehlis]]]]
Notable summits include:

* Schützenberg (904&nbsp;m, main crest southwest of Oberhof)
* Greifenberg (901&nbsp;m, main crest west of Oberhof)
* [[Gebrannter Stein]] (897&nbsp;m, south of the Rennsteig, north of Zella-Mehlis) with remarkable [[cliff]]s
* [[Großer Hermannsberg]] (867&nbsp;m, southwest flank) - local mountain for [[Steinbach-Hallenberg]], with observation tower
* [[Ruppberg]] (866&nbsp;m, southwest flank) - local mountain (northwest) for [[Zella-Mehlis]], with observation tower

==== Rivers and lakes ====
[[File:Ohra-Talsperre Dam from south.jpg|thumb|The [[Ohra Dam]]]]
The northeastern flank of the mountains is drained by right tributaries of the [[Apfelstädt (river)|Apfelstädt]], especially the [[Schmalwasser (Apfelstädt)|Schmalwasser]], and left tributaries of the [[Ohra]], notably the Kernwasser, via the (Apfelstädt,) [[Gera (river)|Gera]] and [[Unstrut]] into the [[Saale]]. The Apfelstädt is impounded by the Tambach-Dietharz Dam into a small lake and the Schmalwasser and Ohra by the [[Schmalwasser Dam|Schmalwasser]] and [[Ohra Dam]]s into larger reservoirs.

The south is drained by the Asbach which flows via the [[Stille (river)|Stille]] into the [[Schmalkalde]] and by rivers and streams belonging to the fan-like system of tributaries of [[Hasel (Werra)]], in particular the [[Schwarza (Hasel)|Schwarza]],<ref>The Schwarza is called the ''Haselbach'' in its upper reaches and the ''Schönau'' in its middle course</ref> ''Häselbach'',<ref>The Häselbach is, especially in its source region, also called the ''Dürre Hasel''</ref> [[Lichtenau (river)|Lichtenau]] and a stream from Albrechts, feeding into the [[Werra]].

=== Gehlberg Thuringian Forest ===
[[Image:Stuetzerbach-081.JPG|thumb|View at a part of [[Stützerbach]]]]
This region between federal roads [[Bundesstraße 4|B 4]] between [[Ilmenau]] and [[Stützerbach]], following the rivers [[Ilm (Thuringia)|Ilm]], Lengwitz, and Nahe, and B 247 between Luisenthal and Suhl contains the three highest summits as well as the fifth highest summit of the whole range. The only settlements wholly within this region are Gehlberg north of Rennsteig and Vesser south of it. Parts of [[Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig|Schmiedefeld]] and Goldlauter-Heidersbach (part of Suhl) also extend into this part of the Forest. The highest summits crowning the mountain ridge are of volcanic origin. The terrain dips rapidly down to heights below 800 m towards the north-east, while heights remain above this altitude south-west of Rennsteig for some distance in the horseshoe-shaped Adlersberg massif.

Motorway [[Bundesautobahn 71|A 71]] and the [[Neudietendorf–Ritschenhausen railway]] pass under the Brandleite Massif between Gehlberg and Oberhof in Rennsteig road tunnel and [[Brandleite Tunnel]].

The area is drained towards the north by the river [[Lütsche]] which feeds the Lütsche reservoir and by [[Wilde Gera]] and [[Zahme Gera]] towards [[Gera (river)|Gera]] river and [[Unstrut]], and by Freibach stream, a tributary of Ilm river, and towards the south by [[Lauter (Hasel)|Lauter]], a tributary of Hasel, and mainly by [[Erle (river)|Erle]], feeding the Erle reservoir, Breitenbach, Vesser, and Nahe into [[Schleuse (river)|Schleuse]].

Notable summits include:
* [[Großer Beerberg]] (984&nbsp;m, main crest 3,4&nbsp;km east of Zella-Mehlis, highest elevation in the Thuringian Forest)
* Schneekopf (978 m), transmitter site and observation tower
* Großer Finsterberg (944 m), with observation tower
* Großer Eisenberg (907 m), whose name bears witness to ore mining activities in the past
* Adlersberg massive (up to 892 m) with Ringberghaus hotel on Ringberg (746 m), a northwestern foothill

=== Frauenwald-Neustadt Thuringian Forest ===

[[File:Kickelhahn von PöHö aus.JPG|thumb|Kickelhahn with Ilmenau in the foreground]]
The region around Frauenwald and Neustadt forms the most south-eastern part of the Thuringian forest proper. It is limited by state road B 4 in the northwest, and by a line along the rivers Talwasser (with Ilmsenbach), Neubrunn, and Schleuse. The adjacent Thuringian Slate Mountains form a geographically and geologically separate natural region, although they are often popularly referred to as a continuation of the former range. Populated places wholly within the region are [[Frauenwald]], Allzunah, [[Neustadt am Rennsteig]], and Oehrenstock. Parts of Stützerbach also reach into this area. Roads follow the ''Rennsteig'', the mountain crests, or the valleys of the rivers.

The main ridge of the mountain range exceeds altitudes of 800 m in several places. The highest and best known summit is [[Kickelhahn]] (861 metres above sea level) southwest of [[Ilmenau]]. As seen from there, all secondary crests towards the northeast and the southwest clearly originate from the main one and show even and gentle slopes, not counting the steep descent into the foreland. The southwestern crests reach altitudes of about 800 m. The dividing valleys are often narrow gorges.

The zone drains:
*Northeast by [[dendritic drainage|the fan]] of the Ilm's tributaries, towards the [[Saale]]
*Southwest by the Nahe, Trenkbach, Schleuse, Gabel, Tanne, and tributaries of the Neubrunn towards the Werra.

The Schleuse, Gabel and Tanne feed the Schönbrunn reservoir.

Notable summits include:
* Kickelhahn (861 m) with observation tower, "backyard mountain" of Ilmenau
* Großer Dreiherrnstein (838 m), 500 m from the tripoint of the former countries [[Schwarzburg-Sondershausen|Schwarzburg-Arnstadt]], [[Saxe-Eisenach]], and [[County of Henneberg|Henneberg]]
* Großer Hundskopf (824 m) with a transmitter site on its foothill Kalter Staudenkopf (768 m)

{{panorama
|image = Image:Ruppberg Sonnenaufgang.jpg
|fullwidth = 3761
|fullheight = 1024
|height = 330
|caption = Sunrise on the mountain Ruppberg near Zella-Mehlis (Thuringian Forest, Germany)
}}

== Tourism and sights ==
Due to its geographical characteristics and the favourable climate, the Thuringian Forest is an important year-round tourist destination. [[Winter sport]]s  play an important role, facilities of international significance are concentrated around Oberhof.  Famous sights include  [[Wartburg]] Castle outside [[Eisenach]] where [[Martin Luther]] lived in exile, the [[selenite (mineral)|selenite]] cave (''Marienglashöhle'', a former mine) near [[Friedrichroda]], the firearms museum in [[Suhl]], and the historic town centres of Eisenach and [[Ilmenau]].

The Rennsteig trail is the most popular long-distance hiking trail in Germany. It is part of:
*the mountainous path from Eisenach to Budapest
*the [[E3 European long distance path]]
*the ''Thüringen-Rhein-Wanderweg''
*(partly) the [[pilgrims' way]] ''or Via Porta''. The latter links the abbeys of [[Volkenroda Abbey|Volkenroda]] and [[Waldsassen Abbey|Waldsassen]].

==See also==
* [[Thuringian Forest Nature Park]]

==Notes and references==
;Notes
{{notelist}}
;References
<references/>

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.thueringer-wald.de Thueringer-wald.de]
* [http://www.thueringer-landschaften.de Thueringer-landschaften.de], a web page with many pictures of Thuringian landscapes

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{{German Central Uplands}}
{{Biosphere Reserves of Germany}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Thuringian Forest| ]]
[[Category:Biosphere reserves of Germany]]
[[Category:Forests and woodlands of Thuringia]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Thuringia]]