Hike from Hirschler Pond along the Pfauenteiche (Peacock Ponds). The ponds were used as reservoir ponds for the Clausthal mining.
An easy circular route around the Hirschler-Pfauen ponds awaits you in Clausthal-Zellerfeld. On the 5 km long hike, you will pass many information boards. There, it is explained in detail how the ponds and water ditches were laid out above Clausthal-Zellerfeld.
The Hirschler Pond and the 3 Pfauenteiche are mining ponds from the 16th and 17th centuries. Water for the Clausthal mines was collected in the ponds.
The 4 ponds lie one behind the other. The Hirschler Pond is at the top, the 3 Pfauenteiche lie like steps below the Hirschler Pond.
The 4 ponds supplied the Caroline and Dorothea mines with water. Both mines were located very high on the mountain. It was difficult to have as much water as possible up there every day.
The ditches and pond systems were therefore necessary for the energy supply in the mines. The ores mined underground had to be brought up. Rainwater that seeped into the mine also had to be pumped out of the galleries. Huge water wheels were responsible for this. They needed a lot of water all year round. The water was therefore collected in the ponds and led via the ditches to the water wheels.
