Hirschberg, Mountain summit in Kaufungen Forest, Germany
Hirschberg is a mountain summit in the Kaufungen Forest with its peak reaching 643 meters above sea level. The summit spreads across a broad plateau about one kilometer in diameter, featuring two distinct high points.
Mining operations started here in 1690 when brown coal extraction began on the northern slopes. The mining continued for centuries until it finally stopped in October 2003.
The mountain holds meaning for hikers and nature lovers who visit regularly to walk through its forested slopes. The protected status of the surrounding forest shows how the landscape is now cared for and restored.
The mountain can be reached from the towns of Wickenrode and Großalmerode using marked hiking trails, as no roads lead to the summit. The paths are well marked and guide visitors through the forest up to the plateau.
The summit plateau still shows visible traces of its mining past, particularly in circular clearings scattered across the surface. Some of these clearings reach up to 165 meters in diameter, revealing the scale of coal extraction that took place here.
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