Excursion leaders: L. Iturrizaga (High Mountain Geography, Institute of Geography, University of Göttingen), C. Barsch (Grube Samson, St. Andreasberg) & W. Ließmann (Technical University Clausthal)

Date & Time: Sunday, September 14

8 - 18 h

Price: 55 €

Including: Transport by coach/minibus from and to Göttingen, printed field trip guide, admission to Grube Samson

Personal requirements: Field boots and water-proof clothing, moderate personal fitness for intermediate walks and climbs. The temperature in the Samson mine is around 8 degrees Celsius, even in summer, so please dress warmly! Please bring your own food and drinks for the day.Lunch at Restaurant “Roter Bär”, St. Andreasberg (not included, everyone pays for themselves).

The excursion presents the outcomes of the inter- and transdisciplinary LEHA-Project “UNESCO World Heritage Upper Harz Water Management: Landscape Change and Energy Use in the Harz in the Anthropocene – A Voyage of Water from the Past to the Future” funded by Pro*Niedersachsen /zukunft.niedersachsen. We will make a voyage through 500 Mio. years of earth history, 3000 years of mining history and energy use to future societal challenges in the Harz Mountains. Key topics include geology, ore deposits, physical and human geography, montanarcheology, anthropogeomorphology, energy use, resource management, sustainability and science communication. Excursion highlights feature the former world’s deepest mine Grube Samson in St. Andreasberg with its technical innovations and its world-famous mineral cabinet as well as the World Heritage site Oder Pond presented in the context of future-oriented approaches of sustainable development.