Rothaar Mountains

F1

Overview map of the Rothaar

The Rothaargebirge is one to 843.2 m above sea level. NHN high mountainous area in North Rhine -Westphalia and Hesse. It represents the center of gravity of the natural environment Sauerland and the highest and snowiest on average Mountains part of the Rhenish Massif dar. Its core Mountains form the Upper Sauerland region and the south-west subsequent red hair at the Rhein -Weser watershed. The highest elevation is the Langenberg, which is the highest North Rhine- Westphalia at the same time.

An historic landscapes Rothaargebirge covers not only the southeastern part of the Sauerland, the bulk of the country's Wittgenstein and the higher parts of the historic Upland also the extreme east of the winning country and the extreme northwest of the Hessian hinterland.

The name of the mountain derives from "Rod -Hardt Mountains ", which translates roughly as " deforested forest mountain range " means - with the color "red " and " hair " it has nothing to do. The name component hair > hard / hardt indicated, inter alia, on a former " forest grazing " out.

Geography

History of naming and delimitation

The term Rothaargebirge, as he is today marked on all major credit cards, has been established only in the 1950s. It is derived from the older term ( the ) red hair, who had referred to the south-west adjacent to the acidic and upländische Sauerland ridge at the boundary between the Sauerland and Wittgenstein.

In 1954, the Federal Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning brought under the direction of E. Meynen and J. Schmithüsen a first map Nature regions of Germany out, in which under the main unit 333: Sauerland addition to the actual Sauerland also been designated with red-hair area and adjacent landscapes were included. In 1957 in the fourth delivery of the manual of the biogeographic division of Germany, a detailed description of the area in which the " merging " of the mountain ranges is not least due to the fact justification that there had never been along the ridge a sharp, scenic visible dividing line.

The demarcation of the main unit Sauerland from 1954 had been closely situated on the borders of today's Rothaargebirge, however, followed up to 1960, where the main unit with Sauerland ( Rothaargebirge ) was titled, nor corrections:

• The ridges hall Hauser mountains and Fahlenscheid and enclosed between two and today Rothaargebirge Hundemgrund had slammed the Rothaargebirge while now as ( most of) the Südsauerländer Rothaarvorhöhen ( 3362.5 ) the Südsauerländer Bergland (main unit 3362 ) are attributed.
• The ridge around the Kalteiche had slammed the winning country, but since then considered part of the Rothaargebirge.
• Under the name of Wittgenstein district had been conducted separately in addition to the north of the Hessian hinterland by the Rothaargebirge as the main unit 332 of the middle east and up to and including Wittgenstein chamber reaching part of the historical Wittgenstein country. The new and existing to this day the main unit 332 Ostsauerländer mountainous border only includes the extreme east of the former, sufficient, however, to the north to just above the Diemelsee addition, while the Wittgenstein heartland (up to the Eder and side valleys below Dotzlars ) of the main unit was 333 slammed.

In the years 1960 to 1972 published in the series Geographic Topographic Surveys - The natural spatial structure of Germany 1: 200,000 of the Federal Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning, the leaves 125 ( Marburg, '60 ), 111 ( Arolsen. '63 ), 110 ( Arnsberg, '69 ) and 124 (Siegen, '72 ), where now (from sheet Arolsen ) in " Rothaargebirge ( with Sauerland ) " renamed main unit is completely divided into finer natural areas 333.

Accordingly, the main unit 333 is rarely referred to as the Upper Sauerland, but almost exclusively with the culturally and historically neutral and also less ambiguous name Rothaargebirge today. In its cards northeast with Sauerland, the actual meaning of that term is usually next to the following Rothaargebirge also stated.

Location and boundaries

The wooded and rich precipitation in large parts Rothaargebirge located predominantly in Westphalia, only the south-east to north-eastern foothills are on the Hessian territory. The north-west flowing rivers belong to the basins of victory, Lenne and Ruhr, southeastern slope drains to Diemel, Eder, Lahn and Dill.

Central places are in Upland in the northeast Willingen ( Waldeck- Frankenberg ), in the central Upper Sauerland Winterberg ( Hochsauerlandkreis ) and Wittgenstein district in the southwest of Bad Berleburg and Erndtebrück (both the district of Siegen -Wittgenstein ).

On the western slope the mountains encounters ( from south to north ) at Burbach, Wilnsdorf, the East Netphens, Hilchenbach and Kreuztal (the district of Siegen -Wittgenstein ), Kirchhundem and the extreme east of the district of Lenne City ( Kreis Olpe ) and Schmallenberg and the outermost east of the district Eslohes (both Hochsauerlandkreis ).

The northern boundary passes from the east Eslohes over the southern districts of Meschede and Bestwigs about Olsberg to Brilon - all Hochsauerlandkreis.

The eastern border in turn extends from Diemelsee south through the western part of the municipality of the same name, the extreme east of Willingen and the far west of the Korbacher district (Landkreis Waldeck -Frankenberg ) over the West Medebachs and Hall Mountain (both Hochsauerlandkreis ), the West Bromskirchens and the outermost north-west of the district Battenberg ( again Waldeck -Frankenberg ), the Southeast Bad Berleburgs ( Siegen- Wittgenstein) and Hatzfeld ( Waldeck -Frankenberg ) about Biedenkopf ( Marburg- Biedenkopf ), Bad Laasphe ( Siegen- Wittgenstein) and the extreme west of the district Breidenbach ( again Marburg -Biedenkopf ), the extreme north of the district Eschenburg and the North West of Dietzhölztal and Haiger (the Lahn- dill-Kreis ) to return to Burbach ( Siegen- Wittgenstein).

Outer limits

Clockwise Mountain is externally bounded roughly by the following locations and river valleys, starting in the South East:

• Flow field of victory Heller downriver on Burbachm Neunkirchen
• The Wild brook upstream to the Wild
• Wilnsdorf and Wilgersdorf
• The area immediately west of the eastern watershed of the victory over Hainchen, value stream, Walpersdorf and Ginsburg to Oberndorf
• The Ferndorfbach downstream of Oberndorf on Hilchenbach and Dahlbruch and remote village to Kreuztal
• The Littfe upriver from Kreuztal about Krombach and Littfeld to the vicinity of the Ruhr -Sieg- watershed north Litt field

• The Olpe downstream of Italians - Ennest about Benolpe and Hofolpe to Kirchhundem
• The Hundem upriver from Kirchhundem to Oberhundem
• Saalhausen
• The Lenne river from Saalhausen about Schmallenberg to Gleidorf

• Bad Fredeburg
• The Leiße downstream of Fredeburg about Dorlar to Frielinghausen
• The Wenne downriver from Frielinghausen to Bremke
• The rice Mecke upriver from Bremke Reiste
• A northeast -extending, lengthening the valley of rice Mecke and the Ruhr tributaries (the italics in brackets) intersecting valley floor over Herhagen ( hen )
• Remblinghausen ( immediately southeast of which the little hen )
• Ramsbeck ( Valme ) and
• Andreas Berg ( east of it the Elpe ) to
• Olsberg (Ruhr)

• Hopp corner ( Hopp corner)
• Diemelsee
• The Diemel upriver from Heringhausen about Giebringhausen to Deisfeld
• Schweinsbühl ( east of it the Rhene )
• The source of Twiste

• Perpendicular to the rivers (rivers ever in italics in brackets) over Rhena ( Rhena )
• Bömighausen ( Neerdar )
• Welleringhausen,
• Titmaringhausen ( Wild Aa),
• Deifeld ( Dittelsbach )
• Medebach ( Medebach )
• Medelon ( Orke )
• Hesborn ( Olfe )
• Hallenberg ( Nuhne )
• Bromskirchen and Neuludwigsdorf ( between the Linspherbach ) and
• Elsoff ( Elsoff ) to
• Schwarzenau (Eder )

• Dexbach ( Treisbach )
• Biedenkopf
• The Lahn river from Biedenkopf Wallau to Bad Laasphe
• Banfe -perf watershed west of Wiesbach and Achenbach

• Almonds (almond Bach)
• Ewersbach ( Dietzhölze )
• Of Rossbach from the source to Oberroßbach
• Fellerdilln ( dill)
• Steinbach
• Haigerseelbach ( Treisbach )

Expansion to the watersheds

The Rothaargebirge in its current boundaries includes the complete, open to the east arc counterclockwise forming Rhine -Weser watershed between Brilon- Peter Born in the north and the bagpipe ( 673.3 m ) in the south, whose northern part about Langenberg ( 843.2 m) is traditionally attributed to the Upper Sauerland to the Kahler Asten ( 841.9 m ), while the keys from the southwest to the belt ( 677.7 m) withdrawing the middle part is the red hair or the core Rothaargebirge, as far as the 1950s was limited.

Furthermore, the Rothaargebirge contains the eastern watershed of the victory between the massif of the High Forest ( 656.2 m) in the north country and the winner of the Cold Oak ( 579.9 m ) to the southwest Interface to Westerwald

Rothaargebirge Nature Park

The surface of the Rothaargebirge is not congruent with the nature park Rothaargebirge, which is directed more by county and township boundaries. So the red hair has the same nature park addition in the northeast also share in the Diemelsee Nature Park and the South East at the nature park Lahn- Dill-Bergland. The lying to the north beyond the nature park boundary parts of the Hochsauerländ Gorge Mountains between the central valley of Wenne and the upper reaches of Hopp corner are counted for Rothaargebirge, whereas parts of the hall Hauser mountains and the Medebacher bay although the nature park Rothaargebirge include, but are not part of the natural space Rothaargebirge.

Landscape characteristics

The Rothaargebirge applies geologically as the northeastern part of the Rhenish Slate Mountains right, but differs from the main part by the greater average height and the only locally given plateau character. It has two distinct peaks corridors, one at 840 m and 650 m.

Absolute altitude areas of the mountains are the natural space Langenberg at the Langenberg ( 843.2 m), where you will find the vast majority of the 800 peak, and the massif of the Kahler Asten ( 841.9 m), of which those of Hunau ( 818.5 m) and Ziegenhelle ( 815.9 m ) branch. Towards the outer edge, the peak heights from each flat to about 600 m.

His strongest level differences reached the mountains, among others in the north of Ramsbecker heights ( in Bestwig- Ramsbeck and Olsberg ), where up to 745 m high summit of Bastenberg, Stüppel, Wiedegge and Heidkopf the only one and a half per kilometer distant river valleys of the Ruhr and its tributaries to some 350 meters above project.

In addition, there are differences in height of 400 meters - although in each of approximately 5 kilometers somewhat greater distance from the river valleys - also on the eastern edge of the mountains in Reetsberg, Bollerberg, Heidkopf and bagpipe.

The core area of the Rothaargebirge is wooded and is also used for forestry, with the semi-natural beech forests occupy about one- third of the area, while spruce forests now constitute the majority. On the edge and in the midst of these landscapes, however, are also agricultural parts ( Wittgenstein chamber, Upland).

Incline

The north western slope of the Rothaargebirge form the dewatered to Lenne Südsauerländer Rothaarvorhöhen (part of the main unit 3362 ), which reach to the hall Hauser Bergen least 688 m. They are separated by the valleys of Hundem and Olpe from the hull of the Rothaargebirge while in the immediately south (west ) current extension, the winning country (main unit 331 ) drained it to the ( upper ) victory.

In the eastern South Rothaargebirge is through the natural area already for the Westerwald (main unit group 32 ) calculated Struth (main unit 321 ) and Gladenbacher Bergland (320 ) abgedacht in a relatively smooth transition.

In the northern east of the mountain, the mountain ranges break to bagpipe, the goats Hellen - Ostausläufer Heidkopf and to Bollerberg, Reetsberg and Schlossberg from rather severe. Here the Ostsauerländer mountainous border closes at.

In the north, close to the Rothaargebirge different parts of the North Auer countries Oberland on (main unit 334 ).

Nature regions

Follows the Rothaargebirge nature is spatially structured ( linked are ever the short summaries in the local product of which can be controlled from the single item):

• ( 33 Southshore Bergland ) 333 Rothaargebirge ( with Sauerland ) 333.0 Dill -Lahn -Eder- source area (up to 694.1 m) 333.00 Kalteiche ( with Haincher height )
• 333.01 Ederkopf -Lahn head back

• 333.10 Odebornsenke
• 333.11 Berleburger reason
• 333.12 Erndtebrücker Leimstruth
• 333.13 Lützeler passport

• 333.40 Brachthäuser High Forest Mountains
• 333.41 West ( Rüsper ) Red Hair
• 333.42 Auer Ederbergland

• 333.50 Wild Struth
• 333.51 Ziegenhelle
• 333.52 Eastern ( Kühhuder ) Red Hair
• 333.53 Long Meadow
• 333.54 Astenberg
• 333.55 Hunau
• 333.56 Harfeld ( Winterberg high trough )
• 333.57 Northern Light heights
• 333.58 Langenberg

• 333.80 Bödefelder well ( with Assinghauser reason)
• 333.81 Ramsbecker back and gorges
• 333.82 Schellhorn and Treis forest
• 333.83 Habuch
• 333.84 hen Borner valleys and back

• 333.90 Interior Upland
• 333.91 Vorupländer back

The following are the part of the mountains, starting from the central Winterberg Highlands, counter-clockwise, starting in the east, characterized in short form.

Winterberg Highlands

The Winterberg Highlands ( 333.5 ) forms the mountain hull and the center of gravity of the Rothaargebirge. The central collection represents the Astenberg massif of the Kahler Asten ( 333.54 ), with 841.9 m third highest peak of the mountain (as well as the entire Southshore mountain country ), dar. midst of the massif, northwest of the main summit, the place Altastenberg is on 740-790 m height.

To the north- west branches, the 818.5 m high massif of Hunau ( 333.55 ), according to south-southeast that of the 815.9 m high Ziegenhelle ( 333.51 ) have from both, like the buttons, shield shape with long side back, the star shape from the base to be pull all directions, and are largely forested. Foothills of the Ziegenhelle be drawn on the Wild Struth ( 333.50 ) to the southwest to directly to the valley of the Eder. The forest cover is mainly cleared the valley of Elsoff with the places Wunderthausen, Diedenshausen and Alertshausen many places for settlements and grassland.

To the southwest of the Astenberg goes beyond the sporadic wooded ski Long Meadow ( 333.53 ) with up to 700 m high altitude ski resorts Mollseifen, Neuastenberg, Long Meadow and Hoheleye into virtually throughout wooded, on Albrecht Mountain 770.8 m and the Great head after all, still 740, 3 m high Kühhuder Red Hair ( 333.52 ) over that, except for the by the Latropschlucht ( 333 521 ), largely unbranched presents itself in Latrop separated Northwest branch to Schmallenberger height ( 668.2 m, 333 522 ) and strictly the Rhine -Weser watershed follows to the southwest. The watershed is also the historical border of Fredeburger land to the county Wittgenstein, today county boundary between Hochsauerlandkreis and the district of Siegen -Wittgenstein.

To the north of the buttons runs into some relief richer and densely forested northern Heller heights ( 333.57 ) in which Silbach is from. Three separated by the valleys of Negroes, nameless, dysentery and Hillebachstausee, north facing back are occupied in their alignment with domed summits, the longest, central back the eponymous, 792.2 m high Nordhelle and the eastern the 764.5 m high Rimberg bears.

To the north- east, the land flattens the keys to Harfeld ( 333.56, also known as winter depression Berger Building ) from. The latter area is forested and hardly noticeable reliefarm. Here the towns of Winterberg and Kuestelberg lie at the southeastern edge of the watershed to over 650 m in height; north of the watershed are Grönebach and Hildfeld on still nearly 600 m.

Northeast of North Light ups and Harfeld closes in a largely wooded natural area Langenberg the north-eastern elevation focus of the Upper Sauerland region, where the eponymous Langenberg ( 843.2 m ) is not only the highest peak of the mountain is at all, but in Hegekopf, Clemens Berg, Ettelsberg, and Hopper head is equal to four other peaks above 830 m altitude, see. The clear resolution in several individual peaks differs markedly from this natural space the signs of the keys, the Hunau and Ziegenhelle. The ridge bears not only the watershed between the Ruhr and Diemel, but also the cultural divide between the Sauerland and the Hessian Upland dar.

In the northern directions Harfeld is sealed off by the Northern Light ups and the Langenberg, who still directly constrict the valley of the Hille Bach above the mouth of the Ruhr at low altitudes, to the west by the massif of keys. In contrast, the highland falls into southwestern to südöstlichere directions from comparatively abrupt.

High-Side

Just east of the keys massif, northeast to which the Ziegenhelle and southeast to the hair field, the densely wooded and very relief- rich mountains of the High side ( 333.7 ) joins, which clearly through the upper reaches of the Nuhne and the swelling near the Valley of the Orke from Winterberg Highlands is discontinued and is orographic shared by other upper reaches of the Orke in northwest-southeast direction into two ridges.

The more southerly of these two massifs are dominated by the 757.7 m high, edgy - kuppigen Bollerberg, the more northerly of the very broad peak of 792.2 m high Reetsberges and the northerly adjacent Schlossberg ( 791.3 m).

East to south-east the heights flat for strong Medebacher bay side, while in north-eastern directions for the flattening Grafschafter Bergland vonstattengeht towards something more gentle. Both landscapes are to Ostsauerländer mountainous border.

The source close to the headwaters of the Orke with the place Elkeringhausen in the northwest is just like the upper reaches of the Nuhne at Zuschen in southwestern counted as sub - natural area of the Hohe page. This includes the Talung of Ahre (right source stream of Nuhne ) and Brehmke - river to the west Züschens which separates the massifs of buttons and Ziegenhelle, with a.

Upland

The natural spatial Upland ( 333.9 ) differs in its borders significantly from the historic Upland from and contains no particular whose highest peaks, which are the Langenberg and thus the Winterberg Highlands attributed. The Langeberg mountain range acts not only as a watershed between the Rhine and the Weser, but also as a cultural divide of Westphalia Sauerland to waldeck between Upland.

The both tourists as well as by Crops and Grassland strong agricultural Upland branches off to the northeast from the Langeberg mountain range, near which the highest heights are reached, such as in the south, the 775.3 m high Kahle Pön. In draining the Diemel inside Upland ( 333.90 ) are Willingen and its districts Stryck, Usseln, Schwalefeld and Rattlar; in its east lies the 726 m high Sähre.

From the Pön from the Vorupländer back ( 333.91 ) pulls widely cuts up to 634.7 m high Widdehagen to the northeast, the Ostsauerländer the edge of the mountains in the Grafschafter Bergland ( south ) and the Adorfer Bay ( north ). This ridge follows the Eder- Diemel watershed and the south of it flowing Neerdar to below the same place Neerdar and drained mainly by the latter on the Eder.

Northwest of the interior Upland is locked by the dense, counted for Hochsauerländ Canyon Mountains Schellhorn and Treis forest to Sauerland out.

Hochsauerländ Canyon Mountains

The Hochsauerländ Canyon Mountains ( 333.8 ) in the north of the Rothaargebirge is. Due to the eponymous gorges to the valleys of the Ruhr, its tributaries in the upper reaches and, east of the Rhine -Weser watershed, which characterized by Hopp corner and Itter

Just north of the natural spatial Upland and the Langeberg mountain range close to the densely wooded and separated by north facing river valleys of hills in Schellhorn and Treis Forest ( 333.82 ).

Just north of the Upland is still on Hessian floor, the 738 m high Dommel. North-east of this mountain the border between two parts of the Ostsauerländer mountain edge starts (main unit 332 ), namely the Adorfer Bay and the north subsequent Diemel mountain country. Located on this border, near the Dommel, the Diemelsee. West of the Dommel and through the valley of Itter separated from him, the ridge Treis ( Dreis ) from the Langeberg mountain range draws on the 805 m high hopper head to the eponymous summit. Directly west thereof, beyond the corner Hopp, runs, starting from the hopper head, the ridge of Schellhorn north of the western branch leads to a 728 m high Istenberg.

The northwestern slope of Schellhorn and Treis forest at the interface to Brilon Country ( part of the North Auer countries Oberland, main unit 334 ) that touches the Olsberger city area at 670.2 m high Borberg, provides under the name Habuch ( 333.83 ) an independent natural area is.

West of Schellhorn and Treis forest, the valley of Assinghauser ground connects to that via the Ruhr to the ranges of the Negroes from the valley of greed Kopp Bach and is sealed off to the north by the Heidkopf (see below). This valley is part of the continuously cleared and intensively farmed Bödefelder well ( 333.80 ), the most Assinghauser reason, contrary to the directions of flow of the three rivers of Elleringhausen about Bruchhausen, Assinghausen and Wiemeringhausen to Siedlinghausen runs first to south-southwest until it vertically as Bödefelder high trough to Frielinghausen drawn to the swelling on Hunau Ruhr flows over the Old field, Bödefeld Westernbödefeld to the west.

North of the Bödefelder trough is followed by the largely wooded Ramsbecker back and gorges ( 333.81 ), which, zertalt through the canyons of the Ruhr flows in south-north direction, to the north in each striking peaks and in the East the Heidkopf ( 715.3 m), west of the Ruhr the Wiedegge ( 732.3 m), beyond the Elpe the Stüppel ( 731.5 m ) and beyond the Valme the Bastenberg ( 744.8 m ) and the Sternberg ( 691.5 m ) open.

In " seamless " transition close to the southwest, the hen Borner valleys and back ( 333.84 ) with the valley of the Little Hen, the Golden shrub ( 653.6 m), the "Great " chicken and the Lumberg ( 559.2 m).

Northeast push the Ramsbecker and hen Borner back to the Oberruhrgesenke, southwest of Lumberg draft the Fredeburger chamber connects - both parts of the Sauerland sinks ( main unit 335 ).

Lenne boiler

The Lenne boiler ( 333.6 ) is the fan-shaped source trough landscape of the catchment area of the top Lenne to the mouth of Sorpe from the right in the eastern city of Schmallenberg. The erosion boiler is semicircular from west to Hunau ( 818.5 m), Kahler Asten (Asten mountain, 841.9 m) and Kühhuder red hair eingeschluchtet ( 770.8 m at the Albrecht Berg) in the hull of the Winterberg Highlands. The Riedel inside the boiler still reach heights up to 727 m, but mostly around 700 m. The 657.8 -meter-high Wilzenberg on the southwestern edge of the boiler is separated by the valley of the county of the 11 m higher Schmallenberger height and thus of the Kühhuder red hair. This is a former valley of the Lenne.

The forest cover is located along the valleys of the Sorpe ( Rehsiepen and three others, together just 100 inhabitants strong places ), nettle Bach ( Nordenau ) and the Lenne itself, where with West field ( Schmallenberg ) and Upper Churches ( Schmallenberg ) the only two larger villages, cleared.

Its location on the windward side (West weather) of the rock fall the annual rainfall of 1100 mm to 1300 mm hardly lower than in Winterberg Highlands.

Westrothaarhöhen

The core of the Westrothaarhöhen ( 333.4 ) is the Rüsper red hair 333.41, which at the nature reserve Rothaarkamm further continues the crest of the Kühhuder red hair on the Rhine -Weser watershed at Grenzweg to the southwest, where the Rüsper red hair at the interface striking a short distance to the north is offset.

Even after leaving the winter Berger highlands of the main ridge reached in Härdler ( 756.3 m) and High Hessel ( 743 m) still respectable heights. At the last mountain exiting the watershed, which was also located close to the Rhine -Weser Tower stands, the county border. On the running now in north-south direction and remaining always below 700 m watershed are currently known surveys such as the Milsenberg ( 669.8 m), the belt ( 677.7 m) and the Giller ( 653.5 m).

Perpendicular to the line Milsenberg belt branches of the foothills of the Brachthäuser Hohenwald mountains ( 333.40 ) first westward, then in a bold curve to the left through the High Forest ( 656.2 m ) to the located in the southwest Kindelsberg ( 618.1 m) at Kreuztal significantly the (historical ) winner from country.

East of Rüsper Rothaarkammes branches off from this, the Auer Ederbergland ( 343.42 ) from which to above the eponymous Eder extends across the east and is surrounded by a semicircle of Wittgenstein chamber, the high basin of Wingeshausen and the Eder valley below Aue.

Dill -Lahn -Eder headwaters

In the southwest of the Rothaargebirge among others the rivers Lahn, Dill, Eder and victory in the two-part back of the dill -Lahn -Eder headwaters originate ( 333.0 ).

Immediately adjacent to the south of the Rüsper red hair and the South West of Wittgenstein chamber extends from Supreme Henn ( 675.9 m) and Ebschloh ( 686.3 m ) south Erndtebrücks by south-southeast to beyond the compass ( 694.1 m) beyond the Ederkopf -Lahn head back ( 333.01 ). On Ederkopf, a southern Vorgipfel the Henn, springs the Eder, on the southeast hunters grove the victory. Further south and on the eastern edge of the Rothaargebirge rises at the Lahn head, a Northeast foothills of the 637.8 m high Stiegelburg, the Lahn. On Jagdberg, a southwestern summit of the compass, meets the watershed between the Lahn and Sieg on the Lahn Lahn between internal and dill.

From the compass in southwest direction from the northern to the interface ( Nordhöll ) pulls 641.1 m high, very schmalgratige Haincher level with the 605.9 m high dill head ( source of the eponymous river ) up to 579.9 m high Kalteiche. About the natural environment Kalteiche ( with Haincher height) ( 333.00 ) runs over the Lahn -Sieg- watershed, the border between North Rhine -Westphalia and Hesse.

Total sources on the western slope of the Ederkopf -Lahn head back north to south the rivers Netphe, Obernau, victory and value stream, and, on the cold oak, the rivers White, Eisern Bach, Wild brook and Heller from the system of victory.

On the northern slope of the Ederkopf -Lahn head back swells next to the Eder in the immediate vicinity of the southern Benfe, located on the in the same Benfe also the only town in the sub - natural space.

On the eastern slope sources besides the Lahn also further south, their tributaries Ilse and Banfe, on the eastern slope of the Haincher height finally Dietzhölze and their receiving waters Dill, at the source -level upper reaches in Offdilln and Dillbrecht the only two places in the southern part of natural space lie.

To the west, the area abuts ans ( the natural environment ) winner country (main unit 331 ), which reached in the winner country red-hair - Vorhöhen at the Altenburg at least 632.9 m. The Struth, in the Haincher height above goes to the southeast, is one of the over already for Dilltal (main unit 321 ). North of the Ederkopf -Lahn head back merges into the Südwittgensteiner Bergland.

Wittgenstein chamber

The Wittgenstein chamber ( 333.1 ) is within the Rothaargebirge a natural spatial feature represents the predominantly composed of agriculturally used grassland Schiefergebirgs high trough separates the southeastern parts of the mountains much of the central and north-western from.

In the far northeast of the narrow Odebornsenke ( 333.0 ) separates the headwaters of the Odeborn of Girkhausen to Schüllar and Wemlighausen the most Albrecht Mountain 770.8 m, 740.3 m at the Great head high Kühhuder red hair in the northwest of up to 815.9 m high massif of Ziegenhelle including the Wild Struth in the east. Southwest then, at the mouth of the Odeborn in the here coming from the west Eder, the chamber widens at the base Berleburger ( 333.11 ) with Bad Berleburg, space land and Bergshausen ( Bad Berleburg ).

The south then, but clearly directed from here to the west Erndtebrücker Leimstruth ( 333.12 ) with the Berleburger districts Hemschlar, Rinthe, Weidenhausen and Sassenhausen and - with the exception Benfes - all districts Erndtebrücks reached at Erndtebrück again the valley of the Eder, where it upriver to east Lützels follows the eastern edge of the historic winner country to be locked west of La Petite through the Giller ( 653.5 m) at the interface to the Siegerländer red-hair - Vorhöhen (main unit 331, winner of the country).

Südwittgensteiner Bergland

This, apart from the Northeast and small outlying areas, all the way to Lahn dehydrating and almost completely lying on Laaspher district Südwittgensteiner Bergland ( 333.2 ) nestles on the west Ederkopf -Lahn head back and to the north Wittgenstein chamber. To the northeast is the area includes the bagpipe ( 673.3 m), in the southeast the Gladenbacher Bergland, while in the extreme south of the hill country flattens significantly for Dilltal out - latter both parts of the natural environment Westerwald.

To the west of the mountains, the forest cover is interrupted at three high- wells. The northernmost is Feudingen Rüppershausen, Oberndorf and Rückershausen to Lahn and Feudinge, the other two to Banfe and Herbertshausen (center) and to Fischelbach and Hessel Bach ( south) at the Banfe. Also the area around Sassenhausen in dewatered to Eder north is cleared.

Known surveys are the bear's head ( 680.4 m) in the northeast, on the Rhine -Weser watershed, as well as the Great Ahlertsberg ( 644.9 m ) in the south, southwest of Bad Laasphe.

Bagpipe

The area around the 673.3 m high bagpipe ( 333.3 ) is located almost exclusively in Hesse. By the rivers Lahn ( at Biedenkopf, in the south) and Eder ( in Hatzfeld, in the north ), on the watershed it is, it is relatively sharply defined, while the transition to the west runs comparatively fluent in Wittgenstein Bergland at the bear's head.

To the east and southeast to close the bagpipes - Vorhöhen to, the north Hatzfelder Ederbergland - both parts of the Ostsauerländer mountain edge. On the other hand include the Upper Lahn Valley and the south followed Breidenbacher reason to Gladenbacher Bergland.

Waters

About the main ridge of the Rothaargebirge runs a section of the Rhine -Weser watershed. This runs in the area of the Rothaargebirge from Brilon in the north east, first to the south and, after a Southeast Schlenker south of the Long Mountain, finally the Kahler Asten to eastern winner country in southwestern direction. In Wittgenstein district she finally runs in an easterly direction to leave the mountains behind the city, in the northern Hessian hinterland bagpipe. (See here for the exact sequence of surveys. )

The watershed forms the boundary between the basin of the Weser river basins of belonging Diemel and Eder to those of Ruhr, Sieg and Lahn, dewater to the Rhine.

Main rivers

From the catchment area and runoff ( MQ ) produces the Ruhr (on the Rhine ) and Eder (on the side of the Weser ) the main rivers; secondarily follow each Lahn or Diemel, while the river system in the victory has only immediate source areas on Rothaargebirge share.

The water of the Ruhr is divided here into the main arms Upper Ruhr and Upper Lenne. Ruhr and Lenne are practically equal main arms of the river system of the Ruhr, which also is manifest, that they bring the same amount of water at the confluence each about (Ruhr 28.8 m³ / s - level Villigst, Lenne: 30.1 m³ / s - High level Limburg). As this confluence takes place well outside the Rothaargebirge, the two sub - river systems should be considered separately here. The same also applies for Upper Lahn and Dill Upper whose river basins are separated by approximately 100 Lahn- km.

The following outflows together with associated catchment areas apply to peak around the Rothaargebirge:

• Ruhr: 22.6 m³ / s - 1063 km ² Upper Ruhr 13.0 m³ / s - 610 km ² ( minus left Wenne ) ( Level 1 Wenne Meschede / Wend Holthausen )
• Upper Lenne 9.6 m³ / s - 453 km ² ( minus minus Veischede Fretterbach ) ( Level Bamenohl )

• Upper Lahn 4.0 m³ / s - 221 km ² (up to border of Hesse, Treisbach )
• Upper dill 2.7 m³ / s - 167 km ² ( up to and including Dietzhölze less Aubach and Haiger Bach)

River basin Diemel

The Diemel rises in the past and at the same time in the natural environment Upland, on the western slopes of Bald Pön. It flows from the northeast direction and is dammed at Helminghausen Diemelsee. Western tributary of the lake is the Itter, on the Hopper head, in the natural area Langenberg, arises. At the confluence of two rivers in Diemelsee the Itter leads with 1176 l / s ( MQ ) significantly more water than the Diemel itself ( 785 l / s).

Only about 400 m north of Itter source originates at Ostfuße of Clement Hill, also Langenberg, the Hopp corner, which flows through a deep valley to the north before south of Brilon turns to the east. In the catchment area of ​​Hopp corner is the dam Schmala. The Hopp corner is in Schellhorn and Treis forest, the eastern part of Hochsauerländ Canyon Mountains, the border between the two eponymous mountain ranges. The easternmost part of Schellhorn and Treis forest around the Dommel is the opposite of the Itter separated.

At the far (north ) eastern edge of the Vorupländer back and thus the entire Rothaargebirge to the Widdehagen springs the Rhene, at the Nordostabdachung with the Twiste the longest and richest Diemel inflow, but which receives no water from the natural environment Rothaargebirge.

River basin Eder

The Eder drains the south-east of the main ridge located area. It rises on Ederkopf, on the southern edge of the massif of the Supreme Henn, and circulates this solid first half clockwise, whereby they directly affected the western edge of the Rothaargebirge in the West. In the further course it flows tortuous to the east, with its numerous major tributaries flow into the main ridge, while the right-hand tributaries of the close proximity to the Rhine -Weser vagina remain for rather short.

The Valley of flowing from Asten massif to the southwest Odeborn forms along the B 480, together with those of Eder ( in the extreme upper reaches even B 62), the Wittgenstein chamber. Further east flow, inter alia, Elsoff and Linspherbach located southeast from adjoining the keys massif massif of Ziegenhelle their determination to flow.

The turn from the keys coming, flowing southeast Nuhne forms in source and upper reaches of the B 236 (north ) eastern boundary of the goats Hellen massif to that of Boller mountain to the Rothaar below Hall Mountain in first a clear east - swerve towards Ostsauerländer exit edge of the mountain and to open only below Frankenberg in the Eder. The B 236 shortens the way to Eder and south follows Bromskirchens the lower reaches of the aforementioned Linspherbaches.

The Springing at Kuestelberg Orke also flows to the southeast. They first circled the massif of Reetsberges, on its northern edge it arises, in the counterclockwise direction and forms the southwestern border to that of Boller mountain to leave the actual Rothaargebirge quickly toward Medebacher bay. Your left tributary Wild Aa, whose source lies on the eastern slope of the Krutenberges in the natural area Langenberg, leaving the " real" Rothaargebirge even Just one kilometer source drive towards mountainous border. From left her flowing to the Neerdar whose headwaters lie along the B 251 in the natural environment Upland. Your source located in the immediate vicinity of the Diemel, on the eastern slopes of Bald Pön.

Lahn River Basin

Six kilometers southeast of the Eder source springs the river Lahn Lahn located between the head in the northeast and in the southwest of Stiegelburg Lahnhof. The Lahn turns first to the northeast, later tortuous to the east and leaves the Rothaargebirge. The water of the springing of the bagpipe and north parallel stream flowing Treis it only comes east to the mountain range on the Wetschaft. From the right and thus the south is the eastern watershed of the Banfe, main river of Wittgenstein mountain country, to ( beyond ) Perf exactly the boundary of the Rothaargebirge to Gladenbacher Bergland, which is semi- circled in the wake of the Lahn clockwise until the Lahn about 100 river miles later and 40 km south of its exit point on the dill resumes water from the Rothaargebirge.

The Dietzhölze rises immediately south of the sources of Banfe and Lahn at the Haincher height, which extends to the southwest ridge line represents the boundary between NRW and Hesse at the same time. The ridge line 5 km following there is also the source of their mother river Dill, which, like its tributary, the mountains immediately leaves. Between the flowing first east Dietzhölze and after a course of the reversals in the south to the east Dill is the Struth, a ridge, like a spur of the Haincher height anmutet of relief here, however, is already counted for the natural environment Westerwald.

River basin victory

The catchment area of ​​the upper reaches of the victory is almost identical to the natural environment Winners country that abdacht the Rothaar to the west. Nevertheless, the source runs of victory and some of its tributaries run initially for a minimum distance in the mountains themselves

The Heller springs from the cold oak, to the southwestern massif of the entire Rothaargebirge, on its northern slope and its tributary Wild brook and the White arises from the direct interface to the Haincher height. Their common mother river originates victory just over 15 km northeast of it on Aukopf, directly between the sources of Eder (northwest ) and Lahn ( south ) at only 3 per km.

The right victory Creek Ferndorfbach that the extreme western foothills of the mountains, the massif of the High Forest, framing to the south, rises a good 10 km northwest of the victory in the west source of the Rothaargebirge. The source of its tributary Littfe, which forms the western border of the mountain, is located on the southwestern slope of the Wolf Horns in the north of the mentioned massif.

Ruhr river basin

The sub - flow system Ruhr -Lenne drained by the Hundem and its tributaries Olpe and Albaumer Bach northwestern Rothaargebirge, northwest of the southwestern main ridge. The already outside, at the southern foot of Steinbrink in the Südsauerländer Rothaarvorhöhen, springing Olpe frames the mountains more or less along the B 517 and drained it over many right tributaries. Albaumer Bach and Hundem spring from the opposite right on the main ridge to the respective Northwest feet of belts and High Hessel. Still further north, where the main ridge is already part of the winter Berger highlands, springs the Latrop about 2 km northwest of the Rhine -Weser watershed between Saukopf and Albrecht Berg. At the base of the ridge, at the Kahler Asten, the Lenne springs themselves, the course of the B236 follows.

The source is located at the Ruhr Ruhr head, south of the North Heller heights. The sub - flow system Upper Ruhr dewatered in the main, the height priorities between the massifs of Hunau, Asten and Langenberg group to the north through the westerly Hochsauerländ Canyon Mountains ( Ramsbecker heights ), which is cut by the eponymous gorges of the river valleys. The Wenne rises just west of the actual Mountains on Robecker mountain, and frames Hunaumassiv and gorge mountains, of which right tributaries come, one from the west, where the B 517 their valley follows. To the east Hen, Little hen, Brabecke, Valme, Elpe and Negro connect. Law of the accompanied in the upper reaches of the B 480 dysentery, directly at the Langenberg, is the source of greed Kopp brook whose valley the eastern part of the canyon mountains, the Schellhorn and Treis forest separates.

The Möhne rises only about two kilometers north of the Rothaargebirge in the south Brilon, Brilon in the highlands ( commonly, with blur, border demarcation, Brilon Heights called ). Northeast of that source can be found in the same area, the nature of the Alme that drains already lip. However, both effects do not contribute to the drainage of the Rothaargebirge.

Table of the most important rivers in the Rothaargebirge

The following are the rivers of the Rothaar and the immediately adjacent ridges with a catchment area of at least 30 km ², listed clockwise starting, listed on the north side of the Rhine -Weser watershed.

For a better overview and sorting downstream are, depending on the river system in the DGKZ digits after the number of the respective main river hyphens inserted.

Italics and with an asterisk ( *) marked rivers originate just outside (up to 4 km), on the outer slope of the Rothaargebirge (source natural area also with star ), but drained by tributaries of the Rothaargebirge.

( ^: The Treisbach was extended for this table around the mouth over the Wetschaft - whatever extent is reasonable hydrologically than the Treisbach the confluence with the Wetschaft brings more water than those under the name Treisbach the river is only 17.2 km itself long at 68.2 km ² catchment and 810 l / S MQ! )

Still waters

The Rothaargebirge itself has hardly any significant lakes, but its slope is rich in such in all directions:

• Diemelsee (165 ha, 1.5 km northeast of the extreme north- east on the Dommel, Schellhorn and Treis Forest)
• Perfstausee (18 ha, 1.5 km south of the southwest foot of the bagpipe )
• Obernautalsperre (86 ha, 2.5 km south-west of the southwest foot of the Supreme Henn, Ederkopf -Lahn head back)
• Breitenbach Dam ( 58 ha, 1 km south of the southwest foot of the massif of the High Forest in the far west of the Rothaargebirge )
• Bigge ( 895 ha, 10 km north- west of the north-west foot of the High Forest massif )
• Henne (213 ha, 2.5 km north- west of the north-west foot of the Golden shrub Ramsbecker heights)

Mountains

Among the most famous (but not necessarily the highest ) mountains of the Rothaargebirge, some of which consist of porphyry, are inclusive of all "Eight hundreds" - mainly by mountain ranges / natural areas, ordered in second by height in meters above mean sea level ( MSL ):

Winterberg Highlands

• Langenberg Langenberg ( 843.2 m) - the highest point in North Rhine -Westphalia
• Hegekopf ( 842.9 m) Mittelberg ( 801.0 m) - North-West summit of Hege head

• Mill head ( 825 m) - with Mühlenkopfschanze

• Hillekopf ( 801.0 m) - South Summit of the hopper head with Hille source Glindfeld ( 800.5 m) - Ostausläufer of Hille head

• Kahler Asten ( 841.9 m) - with Astenturm, Skiliftkarussell Winterberg and Lenne, Odeborn and Sonneborn source Bremberg (809 m) - with Skiliftkarussell Winterberg

• Hunau ( 817.5 m) - with telecommunications tower Bödefeld

• Ziegenhelle ( 815.9 m) - with Snow World Zuschen and Ziegenhelle tower Waller height ( 812.1 m) - South Summit of Ziegenhelle
• Heidkopf ( 703.8 m)

• Nordhelle ( 792.2 m)
• Rimberg ( 764.5 m)
• Ruhr head ( 695.7 m) - with Ruhrquelle

• Albrecht Berg ( 770.8 m)
• Large head ( 740.3 m)

• Hochsauerländ Canyon Mountains Schellhorn and Treis forest High Eimberg ( 806.1 m)
• Hopper head ( 805 m)
• Dommel ( 738.0 m)
• Istenberg ( 728.0 m)
• Borberg ( 670.2 m)

• Bastenberg ( 744.8 m)
• Wiedegge ( 731.6 m)
• Stüppel ( 731.5 m) - with radio and observation tower
• Heidkopf ( 715.3 m)
• Golden shrub ( 653.6 m)
• Lumberg ( 559.2 m) - the westernmost mountain of the mountain gorge

• Kahle Pön ( 775.3 m) - with high heathland
• Sähre ( 726 m)
• Widdehagen ( 634.7 m)

• Reetsberg ( 792.2 m) Schlossberg ( 791.3 m)

• Härdler ( 755.8 m) - highest peak in the district of Olpe
• High Hessel ( 742.8 m) - with television tower Westerberg ( 684.6 m) - with Rhein- Weser -Turm

• Kindelsberg ( 618.1 m) - Kindelsberg tower

• Compass ( 694.1 m)
• Supreme Henn ( 675.9 m) - with Transmission Tower
• Kalteiche ( 579.9 m)

• Ebschloh ( 686.3 m)
• Bagpipe ( 673.3 m) - with radio mast and Kaiser Wilhelm Tower

For a more extensive list with these and other mountains in the Rothaargebirge see the list of mountains of the Rothaargebirge.

Towns

In Rothaargebirge or Rothaargebirge Nature Park or at the edges there are, among others, these villages (in brackets the counties in North Rhine -Westphalia - HSK = Hochsauerlandkreis, OE = Olpe, SI = Siegen- Wittgenstein and Hesse - KB = Waldeck- Frankenberg, MR = Marburg -Biedenkopf ):

• Bad Berleburg (SI)
• Bad Laasphe (SI)
• Biedenkopf ( MR)
• Brilon ( HSK)
• Erndtebrück (SI)

• Hallenberg ( HSK)
• Hatzfeld (KB )
• Hilchenbach (SI)
• Kreuztal (SI)

• Medebach (HSK )
• Netphen (SI)
• Schmallenberg (HSK )
• Winterberg ( HSK)

Activities

By Rothaargebirge numerous footpaths, among others, the Rothaarsteig, a 154 km long hiking trail, and the Waldskulpturenweg where there are numerous works of art and sculptures by various artists.

Starts each October in Fleckenberg the red shedding marathon where the runners have to deal with an altitude difference of 838 m.

In winter, many winter sports in the mountains. Corresponding options are there among others in the post -Meadows ski resort ( at Neuastenberg ) Skiliftkarussell Winterberg and in the Snow World Zuschen.

Within or at the edge of the Rothaargebirge are the theme parks Panorama Park Sauerland Wildlife Park and according to the theme "Wild West" -scale Fort Fun Adventure Land.

Free-living European bison

Since April 2013 bison live freely in the forests of the district of Siegen- Wittgenstein. Among the scientific and legal requirements that had to be met for the reintroduction, counted among other things, that a natural escape behavior and a natural flight distance can be achieved. The herd was equipped with GPS transmitters to locate for a transitional period of two to five years. It is expected to grow to a size of 25 animals first. ( For more information see the article bison, Section reintroduction in Germany. )