Blauer See im Harz

Turquoise-coloured water in the middle of the highest mountains in northern Germany? The region's long list of extraordinary attractions also includes this colourful natural phenomenon: the Blue Lake in the Harz Mountains.

As part of a hike or simply as a short detour on a day trip: the Blue Lake is a highlight worth seeing on any trip to the Harz Mountains. Halfway between Rübeland and Hüttenrode and a good 20 minutes by car from Blankenburg, this unusual phenomenon is hidden behind the disused limestone quarry at Garkenholz.

The Blue Lake in the Harz Mountains through the seasons

To understand the "blue wonder", a brief look at the natural sciences will help. The Blue Lake is fed by rainwater, but also by karst springs. This water is very calcium-rich, so that calcium carbonate is precipitated, which binds suspended matter and algae. They are deposited at the bottom of the Blue Lake as calcareous sludge. The water above is nutrient-poor and clean and reflects the blue part of the sunlight in particular.

This effect is particularly noticeable in spring, making this the best time of year to visit the Blue Lake. At this time of year, the lake is particularly full of water and glows turquoise blue.
But beware: the intense blue colour does not occur every year. However, this place is definitely worth a visit.

Over the course of the summer, the lake's water seeps into the chalky subsoil. Rainwater and suspended particles make the Blue Lake more nutrient-rich again and algae grow. The lake then appears rather green. If the summer is particularly dry, the Blue Lake can almost dry out in autumn.

So make the most of spring and early summer for a trip to the Blue Lake in the Harz Mountains. The clear, cold water invites you to cool off your tired feet after a hike. Soaking up the sun and enjoying a picnic with a view of the turquoise spectacle is a highlight of any holiday in the Harz Mountains.

How did a blue lake come to be in the Harz?

The Harz Mountains are a historic mining region. Limestone for the production of quicklime has been mined in the Am Garkenholz limestone quarry since 1885. The economic benefits of limestone mining were closely linked to the opening of the railway connection between Blankenburg and Rübeland. Mining ceased after the Second World War and was finally shut down in 1955 and the production facilities dismantled.

The natural impact that mining left behind was filled in, overgrown by nature over time or filled with water. The Blue Lake in the Harz Mountains is therefore a quarry lake.

Remains of a former lime kiln can be discovered on a path around the Blue Lake. However, this is not an official path - some of the paths are natural or steep and are therefore not recommended for unsafe hikers or those with pushchairs.

However, the Blue Lake can also be reached by car via a short detour from the B27 main road and a five-minute walk.

The destination of a longer hike could be the cave village of Rübeland, a small village with around 1400 inhabitants just under four kilometres away. The connecting elements between the Blue Lake and the cave village are limestone and water. The attractions of the cave village of Rübeland are the two stalactite caves Hermannshöhle and Baumannshöhle, which offer exciting underground experiences for young and old.

The Blue Lake as a point in the geological network

The entire Harz region is a paradise for explorers, not only for those interested in geology, and as the Harz - Braunschweiger Land - Ostfalen Geopark it is part of the European Geopark network. A network of landmarks and geopoints has been developed to systematise the variety of natural and geological features.

Landmarks are particularly well-known points of the Geopark. The Baumann Cave in Rübeland is one of them. Geopoints are windows that provide an insight into the history of the earth. The Blue Lake is Geopoint 2 in the area of Landmark 13 - Baumann's Cave.

This makes the Blue Lake in the Harz Mountains the perfect excursion destination for a wide variety of visitors:

• For families who have been looking for remnants of mining on a successful "scavenger hunt" and are now taking a break here to relax while the children skip stones over the water.
• For hikers, the Blue Lake is a welcome rest stop on their way through the Geopark.
• For those seeking peace and quiet, who are in the mood for forest air and sunshine and who want to unwind with an extraordinary panorama.
• For the curious in search of an unusual natural phenomenon which, although not unique, is not often found anywhere else in the world.
• For amateur geologists, who can gain a particularly impressive insight into the inner workings of our earth in the already richly specialised Harz region.

And for anyone who simply needs a short break!

The Blue Lake should be on everyone's list of excursion destinations in the Harz!