Silberteich
Encyclopedia
The Silberteich is a man-made pond
and lies on the upper reaches of the Brunnenbach
stream between Braunlage
and Sankt Andreasberg
in the Harz Mountains of Germany. Originally it was called the Andreasberger Teich or Brunnenbacher Teich, where Teich means 'pond'. Its present name (which means 'Silver Pond') was chosen quite recently to underline its attraction as a tourist destination.
The pond was created in 1755 in order to supply the surrounding ore mines with water power. The Braunlage Blue Glass Factory (Braunlager Blaufarbenwerk), on the site of the present-day Waldmühle, also received its energy from the reservoir.
The pond is about 300 m long with an earth dam about 8 m high. Material for the construction of the dam came from a quarry on the west bank immediately next to the embankment.
The Sankt Andreasberg trail (Sankt Andreasberger Fußstieg), which used to be the shortest route between Braunlage and Sankt Andreasberg, runs along the dam crest. Meanwhile, however, the direct path from the forest pub of Rinderstall on the Oder
up to the Silberteich has been largely destroyed by the National Park authorities
, so that the journey today requires a detour of more than double the length.
In 1760 after heavy snowfalls in the Harz there was a rapid thaw in February. During the night of 4/5 February the still new dam could no longer hold back the water. It broke and floodwaters poured into the Brunnenbach valley. The waters built up in front of the Brunnenbach Mill, forming a barrier of trees and branches they had brought down with them. The swollen waters looked for a new way out and tore through the mill. Following its rebuilding, the Silberteich was also known until about 1900 as the Neue Teich ('New Pond').
Today the pond is part of a nature reserve. A path runs along the water's edge on the eastern shore. Otherwise paths have been kept some distance away in order to create a quiet zone for flora and fauna.
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
and lies on the upper reaches of the Brunnenbach
Brunnenbach
The Brunnenbach is a 10 km long, right-hand tributary of the Warme Bode, which flows to the west and south of Braunlage in Goslar district in the north German state of Lower Saxony.- Course :...
stream between Braunlage
Braunlage
Braunlage is a town and health resort in the Goslar district in Lower Saxony in Germany. It lies within the Harz mountain range, south of the Brocken.Nowadays Braunlage's main business is tourism, particularly ski tourists...
and Sankt Andreasberg
Sankt Andreasberg
Sankt Andreasberg is a town and a former municipality in the district of Goslar, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Since 1 November 2011, it is part of the town Braunlage. It is situated in the Harz, approximately 7 km west of Braunlage proper, and 20 km east of Osterode am Harz.- History :Sankt...
in the Harz Mountains of Germany. Originally it was called the Andreasberger Teich or Brunnenbacher Teich, where Teich means 'pond'. Its present name (which means 'Silver Pond') was chosen quite recently to underline its attraction as a tourist destination.
The pond was created in 1755 in order to supply the surrounding ore mines with water power. The Braunlage Blue Glass Factory (Braunlager Blaufarbenwerk), on the site of the present-day Waldmühle, also received its energy from the reservoir.
The pond is about 300 m long with an earth dam about 8 m high. Material for the construction of the dam came from a quarry on the west bank immediately next to the embankment.
The Sankt Andreasberg trail (Sankt Andreasberger Fußstieg), which used to be the shortest route between Braunlage and Sankt Andreasberg, runs along the dam crest. Meanwhile, however, the direct path from the forest pub of Rinderstall on the Oder
Oder (Harz)
The Oder is a 56 km long river in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is a right tributary of the Rhume. Its source is in the Harz mountains, near Sankt Andreasberg. It flows southwest through Bad Lauterberg, Pöhlde and Hattorf am Harz...
up to the Silberteich has been largely destroyed by the National Park authorities
Harz National Park
The Harz National Park is a nature reserve in the German federal states of Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. It comprises large portions of the western Harz mountain range, extending from Herzberg and Bad Lauterberg at the southern edge to Bad Harzburg and Ilsenburg on the northern slopes...
, so that the journey today requires a detour of more than double the length.
In 1760 after heavy snowfalls in the Harz there was a rapid thaw in February. During the night of 4/5 February the still new dam could no longer hold back the water. It broke and floodwaters poured into the Brunnenbach valley. The waters built up in front of the Brunnenbach Mill, forming a barrier of trees and branches they had brought down with them. The swollen waters looked for a new way out and tore through the mill. Following its rebuilding, the Silberteich was also known until about 1900 as the Neue Teich ('New Pond').
Today the pond is part of a nature reserve. A path runs along the water's edge on the eastern shore. Otherwise paths have been kept some distance away in order to create a quiet zone for flora and fauna.