Short circular route around the dam of the Oderteich. The Oderteich was for a long time the largest and most modern reservoir in Germany.
The Oderteich is the largest of all Upper Harz ponds and the highlight of hydraulic engineering in the Upper Harz. The dam is 21 meters high and made of huge granite stones. For 171 years, the Oderteich was the largest reservoir in Germany.
The reservoir was built in 1722. It is very different from the other ponds in the Harz. The information boards along the way tell you what is so special about it. For example, why the dam is built from huge granite stones. Or what people did during freezing winters in the High Harz.
If the pond has little water, you can see where they took the granite stones for construction at that time.
The Oderteich was important for the mines in the Harz. The huge water wheels in the mines needed a lot of water throughout the year.
The water from the Oderteich is still channeled through the Rehberger Graben to Sankt Andreasberg up to the Samson Mine. Until 1910, the water from the Oderteich powered the water wheels in the Samson Mine. Today, the water is used in the hydroelectric power plant, where electricity is produced.
