Kunstteich
Encyclopedia
A Kunstteich is an historic German term for a man-made lake or pond associated with the mining
industry and its technology. These pond
s were created by the construction of barriers, typically dam
s and embankments, and were used to supply hydropower
and water to the mines. Water stored in the reservoir was used for a variety of purposes. It was used to turn water wheel
s that in turn drove the various mechanical devices used in mining in earlier centuries, such as man engine
s. It was also used to produce power and drain the mines, or in the processing of ore. In principle, all Kunstteiche are small dam and reservoir installations. The oldest working dams in Germany are Kunstteiche.
Water is supplied to and transported away from the ponds either above ground in artificial channels (Kunstgräben
) or underground through so-called Röschen, small channels in the mine galleries. If the water from Kunstteiche is used in the smelting (Verhüttung) of ore
they may be called Hüttenteiche or "smelter ponds".
An extensive, surviving system of Kunstteiche and Röschen is the Freiberg Mining Area Water System (Revierwasserlaufanstalt Freiberg
) in the Ore Mountains
in the former Freiberg mining region (10 ponds). Other very large systems are found in the Upper Harz
around Clausthal-Zellerfeld
(Upper Harz Water Regale
, 65 ponds) and in the Lower Harz around Straßberg (Lower Harz Ditch and Pond System, 21 ponds with a capacity of 1.75 M m³).
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
industry and its technology. These pond
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
s were created by the construction of barriers, typically dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
s and embankments, and were used to supply hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
and water to the mines. Water stored in the reservoir was used for a variety of purposes. It was used to turn water wheel
Water wheel
A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of free-flowing or falling water into useful forms of power. A water wheel consists of a large wooden or metal wheel, with a number of blades or buckets arranged on the outside rim forming the driving surface...
s that in turn drove the various mechanical devices used in mining in earlier centuries, such as man engine
Man engine
A man engine is a mechanism of reciprocating ladders and stationary platforms installed in mines to assist the miners’ journeys to and from the working levels...
s. It was also used to produce power and drain the mines, or in the processing of ore. In principle, all Kunstteiche are small dam and reservoir installations. The oldest working dams in Germany are Kunstteiche.
Water is supplied to and transported away from the ponds either above ground in artificial channels (Kunstgräben
Kunstgraben
A Kunstgraben is a type of man-made water channel that was once used by mines to drive the water wheels needed for power, mine drainage and a host of other purposes...
) or underground through so-called Röschen, small channels in the mine galleries. If the water from Kunstteiche is used in the smelting (Verhüttung) of ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
they may be called Hüttenteiche or "smelter ponds".
An extensive, surviving system of Kunstteiche and Röschen is the Freiberg Mining Area Water System (Revierwasserlaufanstalt Freiberg
Revierwasserlaufanstalt Freiberg
The Revierwasserlaufanstalt Freiburg or RWA Freiberg, was a historical water management system that delivered driving water to the Freiberg mines in the German state of Saxony...
) in the Ore Mountains
Ore Mountains
The Ore Mountains in Central Europe have formed a natural border between Saxony and Bohemia for many centuries. Today, the border between Germany and the Czech Republic runs just north of the main crest of the mountain range...
in the former Freiberg mining region (10 ponds). Other very large systems are found in the Upper Harz
Upper Harz
The Upper Harz refers to the western and higher part of the Harz mountain range in central Germany. Much of the Upper Harz is over , but at its eastern edge in the High Harz it climbs to over on the Brocken massif.- Geography :...
around Clausthal-Zellerfeld
Clausthal-Zellerfeld
Clausthal-Zellerfeld is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the southwestern part of the Harz mountains. Its population is approximately 15,000, Clausthal-Zellerfeld is also the seat of the Samtgemeinde Oberharz....
(Upper Harz Water Regale
Upper Harz Water Regale
The Upper Harz Water Regale is a system of dams, reservoirs, ditches and other structures, much of which was built from the 16th to 19th centuries to divert and store the water that drove the water wheels of the mines in the Upper Harz region of Germany...
, 65 ponds) and in the Lower Harz around Straßberg (Lower Harz Ditch and Pond System, 21 ponds with a capacity of 1.75 M m³).