Upper Hartz: the architecture of water for mining

Useful to know

The Upper Hartz Water Management System is part of the common site with the Ramelsberg Mine and the historic Goslar. It uses water for mining needs through related facilities: ponds, canals, tunnels and drainage. UNESCO has followed the development of this tradition for about eight centuries. [1]

It is an architectural theme without a mandatory palace or cathedral. The shape of the terrain and the path of the water are just as important as the individual construction. To understand the system, look at the connections between the facilities, not just the scenic appearance of a lake.

A useful question for a map is: where does the water come from, where does it stay, and what kind of work does it target? Thus, the industrial landscape becomes readable as an organized infrastructure. Not every historical water system is made for drinking supply or for decoration.