Huy (hills)
Encyclopedia
The Huy or Huywald is a ridge
, up to 314 metres high, in western Saxony-Anhalt
in Germany. It lies in the northern part of the district of Harz, about 10 kilometres northwest of Halberstadt
and a few kilometres west of Schwanebeck
. It is chiefly composed of bunter sandstone and muschelkalk
and has been designated a protected area
. Towards the north and northwest the terrain falls away into the Großes Bruch
. Towards the east the Huy transitions to the Magdeburg Börde
; to the south and southwest it is adjoined by the Harz Foreland and the Harz Mountains.
The highest hill, the 314 metre high Buchenberg, is located about three kilometres southwest of Dingelstedt am Huy, within the municipality of Huy. The Huy Forest (Huywald) is one of the largest, almost pure beech
forests of central Europe.
On the crest of the Huy lies the Benedictine
abbey
of Huysburg
, which is on the Romanesque Road, and Daneil's Cave
.
Politically the Huy belongs to the parish of the same name. Its villages lie around the ridge itself.
and rock salt not far below the surface. This led to the foundation of the Wilhelmshall Mining Company (Bergrechtliche Gewerkschaft Wilhelmshall), which started mining salts here in 1926 and triggered a boom in the Huy region. The Jerxheim–Dedeleben–Nienhagen railway, with its industrial siding built in 1891 from Anderbeck to the potash works, was constructed primarily for the transportation of potash salts.
In 1897 a cement works built close to Schwanebeck that used a limestone quarry in the Huy was also connected to the railway line.
During quarrying work in 1910 ice age kettles were discovered.
From 1934 the Dingelstedt b Halberstadt Army Ammunition Depot (Heeres-Munitionsanstalt Dingelstedt b Halberstadt) was located in the Huy in several old potash mine galleries. In 1944 up to 600 employees and forced labourers worked here. Two explosions on 21 September 1944 caused 59 deaths. From 1957 to 1961 there was discussion about reopening the potash mines, but the idea was eventually dropped. By 1962 the underground facilities were cleared and, in 1978, the shafts were flooded.
Today the Huy is heavily used by hikers, cyclists and riders.
to Wernigerode
and the B 79 that runs southwards from Wolfenbüttel
to Halberstadt
). It measures about 25 kilometres from east to west and some three kilometres from north to south.
The (Jerxheim–)Dedeleben–Nienhagen railway, also known as the Huy Railway (Huybahn), rungs along the eastern and northern edge of the Huy. It was closed in 2001.
Ridge
A ridge is a geological feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for some distance. Ridges are usually termed hills or mountains as well, depending on size. There are several main types of ridges:...
, up to 314 metres high, in western Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
in Germany. It lies in the northern part of the district of Harz, about 10 kilometres northwest of Halberstadt
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
and a few kilometres west of Schwanebeck
Schwanebeck
Schwanebeck is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated northeast of Halberstadt. It is part of the Verbandsgemeinde Vorharz....
. It is chiefly composed of bunter sandstone and muschelkalk
Muschelkalk
The Muschelkalk is a sequence of sedimentary rock strata in the geology of central and western Europe. It has a Middle Triassic age and forms the middle part of the Germanic Trias, that further consists of the Buntsandstein and Keuper...
and has been designated a protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
. Towards the north and northwest the terrain falls away into the Großes Bruch
Großes Bruch
The Großes Bruch is a wetland area, 45 kilometres long, in Germany, situated between Oschersleben in Saxony-Anhalt in the east and Hornburg in the west. It was formed from a glacial valley...
. Towards the east the Huy transitions to the Magdeburg Börde
Magdeburg Börde
The Magdeburg Börde is the central landscape unit of the state of Saxony-Anhalt and lies to the West and South of the eponymous state capital Magdeburg. It is noted for its very fertile soils.- Boundaries :...
; to the south and southwest it is adjoined by the Harz Foreland and the Harz Mountains.
The highest hill, the 314 metre high Buchenberg, is located about three kilometres southwest of Dingelstedt am Huy, within the municipality of Huy. The Huy Forest (Huywald) is one of the largest, almost pure beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
forests of central Europe.
On the crest of the Huy lies the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
of Huysburg
Huysburg
Huysburg or Huysburg Priory , formerly Huysburg Abbey , is a Benedictine monastery situated on the Huy, a mountainous area near Halberstadt, in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany....
, which is on the Romanesque Road, and Daneil's Cave
Daneil's Cave
Daneil's Cave , also called Robber's Cave is located on the northern side of the Huy ridge in the district of Harz in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is named after the legend of a notorious robber, Daneil....
.
Politically the Huy belongs to the parish of the same name. Its villages lie around the ridge itself.
History
Between 1882 and 1887 several drillings were carried out in the Huy about five kilometres from Anderbeck. They uncovered large deposits of potashPotash
Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
and rock salt not far below the surface. This led to the foundation of the Wilhelmshall Mining Company (Bergrechtliche Gewerkschaft Wilhelmshall), which started mining salts here in 1926 and triggered a boom in the Huy region. The Jerxheim–Dedeleben–Nienhagen railway, with its industrial siding built in 1891 from Anderbeck to the potash works, was constructed primarily for the transportation of potash salts.
In 1897 a cement works built close to Schwanebeck that used a limestone quarry in the Huy was also connected to the railway line.
During quarrying work in 1910 ice age kettles were discovered.
From 1934 the Dingelstedt b Halberstadt Army Ammunition Depot (Heeres-Munitionsanstalt Dingelstedt b Halberstadt) was located in the Huy in several old potash mine galleries. In 1944 up to 600 employees and forced labourers worked here. Two explosions on 21 September 1944 caused 59 deaths. From 1957 to 1961 there was discussion about reopening the potash mines, but the idea was eventually dropped. By 1962 the underground facilities were cleared and, in 1978, the shafts were flooded.
Today the Huy is heavily used by hikers, cyclists and riders.
Transport
The Huy lies in the angle formed by the B 244 federal road heading westwards from HelmstedtHelmstedt
Helmstedt is a city located at the eastern edge of the German state of Lower Saxony. It is the capital of the District of Helmstedt. Helmstedt has 26,000 inhabitants . In former times the city was also called Helmstädt....
to Wernigerode
Wernigerode
Wernigerode is a town in the district of Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until 2007, it was the capital of the district of Wernigerode. Its population was 35,500 in 1999....
and the B 79 that runs southwards from Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, located on the Oker river about 13 kilometres south of Brunswick. It is the seat of the District of Wolfenbüttel and of the bishop of the Protestant Lutheran State Church of Brunswick...
to Halberstadt
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
). It measures about 25 kilometres from east to west and some three kilometres from north to south.
The (Jerxheim–)Dedeleben–Nienhagen railway, also known as the Huy Railway (Huybahn), rungs along the eastern and northern edge of the Huy. It was closed in 2001.