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| Harz | |
|---|---|
_-_panoramio.jpg) | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Brocken |
| Elevation | 1,141.2 m (3,744 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 110 km (68 mi) |
| Area | 2,226 km2 (859 sq mi) |
| Geography | |
 Topographic map of the Harz Mountains | |
| States | Germany |
| Range coordinates | 51°45′N 10°38′E / 51.750°N 10.633°E |
| Parent range | Central Uplands |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Hercynian |
| Rock age(s) | oldest rock > 560 million years (Ecker gneiss-educt), youngest pre-quaternary rocks c. 290 million years (Brocken granite) |
| Rock type(s) | Paleozoic sedimentary, metamorphic and magmatic rocks – mainly slate, grauwacke, granite |
The Harz (German: [haːɐ̯ts] ), also called the Harz Mountains, is a highland area in northern Germany. It has the highest elevations for that region, and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart (hill forest). The name Hercynia derives from a Celtic name and could refer to other mountain forests, but has also been applied to the geology of the Harz. The Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz with an elevation of 1,141.1 metres (3,744 ft) above sea level. The Wurmberg (971 metres (3,186 ft)) is the highest peak located entirely within the state of Lower Saxony.