Thuringian Forest

Thuringian Forest
Thüringer Wald
View from Schneekopf towards Oberhof
Highest point
Peak	Großer Beerberg
Elevation	983 m (3,225 ft)
Coordinates	50°39′34″N 10°44′42″E / 50.65944°N 10.74500°E / 50.65944; 10.74500
Geography
Location of Thuringian Forest in Germany
Country	Germany
State/Province	Thuringia
Range coordinates	50°40′N 10°45′E / 50.667°N 10.750°E / 50.667; 10.750Coordinates: 50°40′N 10°45′E / 50.667°N 10.750°E / 50.667; 10.750
Geology
Orogeny	Variscan, Saxonian
Age of rock	Paleozoic
Type of rock	sedimentary, metamorphic, magmatic

The Thuringian Forest (Thüringer Wald in German), is a mountain range in the southern parts of the German state of Thuringia, running northwest to southeast between the valley of the river Werra near Eisenach and the Thuringian-Vogtlandian Slate Mountains. The geographical boundary with the latter range follows approximately a line from Gehren via Großbreitenbach to Schönbrunn near Schleusingen, defined by the rivers Schleuse and Neubrunn on the southwestern slope, and Talwasser, Wohlrose and Möhre on the northeastern slope.

The Thuringian Forest forms a continuous chain of ancient rounded mountains with steep slopes to both sides and poses ample difficulties in transit routing save through a few navigable passes. It is about 70 km (43 mi) long and 20 km (12 mi) wide. The highest elevation is Großer Beerberg at 982 m (3,222 ft) a.s.l.

The Rennsteig (sometimes called Rennweg) is an ancient path following the main ridge and connecting the summits. It is now a famous hiking path and marks the traditional boundary between the hills-dominated terrain of central Germany and the more rugged terrain characteristic of southern Germany, and also the boundary between the cultural regions of central and north Thuringia and Franconia. Dialects and traditional customs and costumes are different on either side of the Rennsteig. The Rennsteig is the subject of the song Rennsteiglied (), the unofficial hymn of Thuringia.

Motorway A 4 passes north of the Thuringian Forest, while A 71, intersecting the former south of Erfurt, crosses the range from the northeast to the southwest, passes under the ridge in the Rennsteig Tunnel near Oberhof, and is joined near Suhl by A 73. Two more long-distance roads, Bundesstraßen 19 and 84, pass over the western parts of the range, while Bundesstraße 88 skirts the northern foothills between Eisenach and Geraberg.