Editing Harz (section)

=== Winter sports ===
[[File:Wolfswarte.JPG|thumb|View of the Upper Harz]]
Although winter sport in the Harz does not have the significance of other mountain areas, such as the [[Thuringian Forest]], [[Ore Mountains]], [[Black Forest]] or even the [[Alps]], there are plenty of winter sport facilities. Of particular note are the villages and towns of Altenau (including [[Torfhaus]]), [[Benneckenstein]], Braunlage (including [[Hohegeiß]]), Goslar-[[Hahnenklee]], [[Hasselfelde]], Sankt Andreasberg (including [[Sonnenberg (Harz)|Sonnenberg]] and Oderbrück) and Schierke. Due to the high altitude and length of their runs, [[Nordic skiing]] is very popular. International winter sport competitions take place on the [[Wurmberg (Harz)|Wurmberg]] ski jump near Braunlage and the [[biathlon]] facility at Sonnenberg.

Also worth mentioning are the many [[cross-country skiing]] runs (''Loipen'') in the Harz. Their quality and features are ensured by the land owners, particularly in the Harz National Park, where snow is still relatively guaranteed during the winter months, and also by individual communities and societies. The ''Förderverein Loipenverbund Harz'', for example, is well known in this regard. It was founded in 1996 on the initiative of the Harz National Park, Harz winter sport parishes, the cable car and lift operators, hotels and transport companies, and has the aim of promoting ski tourism in the Harz and looking after the interests of nature conservation.

The [[mountain rescue service]] on the cross-country routes, the toboggan slopes, footpaths, alpine ski pistes and rough terrain is provided by the ''[[Bergwacht]] Harz''.