located_in_the_administrative_territorial_entity sperberhai dyke
At , the Bruchberg in the Upper ___MASK41___ is the second highest ___MASK49___ in ___MASK57___ and the third highest in the ___MASK41___ mountains in North ___MASK30___ . It lies between Altenau and Torfhaus in the middle ___MASK82___ the ___MASK41___ ___MASK38___ . The Bruchberg is more like a plateau and has no real summit . This plateau is partly covered with trees , but on the sunny southern slopes the trees have largely died as a result ___MASK82___ bark beetle infestation ( see photograph below ). Following this insect destruction , a new natural forest , rich in its variety ___MASK82___ species , is now growing in the heart ___MASK82___ the ___MASK41___ ___MASK38___ . The Brocken , also sometimes referred to as the Blocksberg , is the highest peak ___MASK82___ the Harz mountain range and also the highest peak ___MASK82___ ___MASK98___ Germany ; it is located near Schierke in the German state ___MASK82___ ___MASK86___ - Anhalt between the rivers Weser and Elbe . Although its elevation ___MASK82___ is below alpine dimensions , its microclimate resembles that ___MASK82___ mountains ___MASK82___ about . The peak above the tree line tends to have a snow cover from September to May , and mists and fogs shroud it up to 300 days ___MASK82___ the year . The mean annual temperature is only . It is the easternmost mountain in northern Germany ; travelling east in a straight line , the next prominent elevation would be in the Ural Mountains in Russia . The Upper ___MASK41___ refers to the northwestern and higher part ___MASK82___ the ___MASK41___ mountain range in Germany . The exact boundaries ___MASK82___ this geographical region may be defined differently depending on the context . In its traditional sense , the term Upper ___MASK41___ covers the area ___MASK82___ the seven historical mining towns (" Bergstädte ") - Clausthal , Zellerfeld , Andreasberg , Altenau , Lautenthal , Wildemann and Grund - in the present - day German federal state ___MASK82___ ___MASK57___ . Orographically , it comprises the ___MASK41___ catchment areas ___MASK82___ the Söse , Innerste and Grane , Oker and Abzucht mountain streams , all part ___MASK82___ the larger Weser watershed . The Sperberhai Dyke ( German : Sperberhaier Damm ) is in fact an aqueduct which forms part ___MASK82___ the Upper Harz Water Regale network ___MASK82___ reservoirs , ditches , dams and tunnels in the Harz mountains ___MASK82___ central Germany . It carries the water ___MASK82___ the Dyke Ditch over the depression ___MASK82___ the Sperberhai to the Clausthal plateau . The Sperberhai Dyke was built in 1732 - 34 in order to satisfy the rising demand for water power for the water wheels ___MASK82___ the Clausthal mines . The water crossed the embankment in a channel along its crest . The channel is only visible today at its western end . Its hydraulic capacity at peak times was up to 1 , 000 litres per second . The Dyke Ditch is the longest artificial ditch in the Upper ___MASK41___ in ___MASK9___ Germany . Its purpose was to collect surface runoff for the operation ___MASK82___ the Upper ___MASK41___ mining industry from precipitation - heavy regions a long way away ( particularly from the Bruchberg and parts ___MASK82___ the Brocken massif ). It was laid in 1732 and continually extended eastwards until 1827 . Its original length was about 25 km ; this was successively shortened by water tunnels between 1820 and 1861 to around 19 km . It is a ___MASK9___ component ___MASK82___ the Upper ___MASK41___ Water Regale . Its takes its name from the Sperberhai Dyke which is , in fact , an embankment on top ___MASK82___ which the Dyke Ditch runs in an aqueduct in order to cross a depression . Surface runoff ( also known as overland flow ) is the flow ___MASK82___ water that occurs when excess stormwater , meltwater , or other sources flows over the Earth ' s surface . This might occur because soil is saturated to full capacity , because rain arrives more quickly than soil can absorb it , or because impervious areas ( roofs and pavement ) send their runoff to surrounding soil that cannot absorb all ___MASK82___ it . Surface runoff is a major component ___MASK82___ the water cycle . It is the primary agent in soil erosion by water .