1G6 The Hartz. 



to the lower and more prolific surrounding country. The earth be- 

 neath appears to have grown rich at the expense of its surface ; the 

 Creator banishing all other sources of happiness and wealth, has 

 apparently placed every thing in subordination to the mines, as if 

 they alone were sufficient for the wants of man. The aspect of the 

 country is sterile ; the potatoe appears to be the only vegetable which 

 this ungrateful climate fosters. The clouds, which, hurried on by 

 the winds, are here constantly passing, render these plains disagree- 

 able and unwholesome. The sun did not once appear through the 

 dense mist that lowered over and about Clausthal, during the eigh- 

 teen days that we spent there. The temperature is that of the lower 

 countries during the winter. 



The fir, the oak, the birch, the beech, and the yoke elm are the 

 principal trees that cover the declivities of the highlands, which form 

 the barriers against the torrent as it roars or meanders below. Of 

 these, the fir is much the most frequent, and it forms the covering 

 of those points where all other vegetation has ceased to appear; its 

 dark foliage, joined with a clouded heaven, gives a sombre appear- 

 ance to the distant valleys, presenting an ensemble truly sublime. 

 Many of the valleys are rendered more beautiful by one or more 

 artificial dams, (Bergwerksteiche.) They amount in all to thirty, 

 and are used or kept in reserve as a power for working the mines, 

 and for metallurgical operations ; when the same valley contains sev- 

 eral, the most elevated throws its waters immediately into the second, 

 and the second into the third, thus forming a series of lakes and cas- 

 cades. They give a very picturesque effect as they recede before 

 the eye. That termed Oderteich situated to the west of the Brock- 

 en, and over which the road passes from Clausthal to Braunlage is 

 very large. The principal valleys which adorn this range are those 

 of Lautenthal, Ocker, Ilsenburg, the Rosstrapp, Magdesprung, Illfeld, 

 Hertzberg, he. That termed Magdesprung, contains the baths call- 

 ed Alexisbad, appertaining to the prince of Anhalt. This valley is 

 naturally very beautiful, and has been embellished in the vicinity of 

 the baths by walks, and elegant summer houses perched upon the 

 heights around ; thus ofiJering to the invalid a variety of healthy and 

 charming promenades. These baths are cold and much frequented 

 during the summer season. The Hartz possesses no water-falls of 

 note. Some of tlie torrents are visited by the traveller ; that in the 

 valley of Ilsenberg is remarkable for its rapidity, which arises from its 

 proximity to the Brocken. Ockerthal is a very romantic valley situ- 



