In the Harz mountains there is a higher than average number of dams with their associated reservoirs. The reason is that the Harz is one of the regions with the heaviest rainfall in Germany and so its water power was utilised very early on. The first dam (on the Upper Harz Ponds) was built in order to drive water-powered pumps and stamp mills used in the mines.
At the present time the Harz reservoirs provide hydro-electricity, drinking water and flood protection, particularly when the snows melt in spring.
The following is a list of dams in the Harz:
Ecker Dam which impounds the waters of the Ecker
Grane Dam which impounds the waters of the Grane
Hassel Auxiliary Dam which impounds the waters of the Hassel, is part of the Rappbode Dam system
Innerste Dam which impounds the waters of the Innerste
Kelbra Dam which impounds the waters of the Helme
Königshütte Dam impounds the waters of both the Warme and Kalte Bode, and is part of the Rappbode Dam system
Mandelholz Dam (flood control basin) which impounds the waters of the Kalte Bode
Neustadt Dam (or Nordhausen Dam) which impounds the waters of the Krebsbach
Oder Dam which impounds the waters of the Oder
Oderteich which impounds the waters of the Oder
Oker Dam which impounds the waters of the Oker
Rappbode Dam which impounds the waters of the Rappbode und Hassel, and is part of the Rappbode Dam system
Rappbode Auxiliary Dam which impounds the waters of the Rappbode, and is part of the Rappbode Dam system
Söse Dam which impounds the waters of the Söse
Wendefurth Dam which impounds the waters of the Bode, and is part of the Rappbode Dam system
Wippra Dam (or Wipper Dam) which impounds the waters of the Wipper
Zillierbach Dam which impounds the waters of the Zillierbach
In addition, according to the definition of a dam, 30 of the Upper Harz Ponds (Teiche) also count as dams in the Harz. These elements of the Upper Harz Water Regale belong to the oldest working dams in Germany.
