BROCKEN, the name of the highest of the Hartz mountains in Saxony. This mountain, which, on ac count of its natural curiosities, is much resorted to by travellers, may be ascended by two great roads for car riages, or by five foot-paths. The best method of as cending it on foot is to take the foot-path on the side of Schiercke, and to descend by the foot-path of Ilsen bourgh. Between Schiercke and Heinrichshoke there are immense blocks of granite, like those of Mount St and large tables of granite, equal to those on Mount Grimsel. In order to facilitate the ascent of the mountain, the reigning Count of Stollberg Wernige rode has cut a new road from NVernigerode, where he has erected a large and well built inn, from a design of the architect Barth, which is protected by conductors, and which resisted the terrible storm of November 1800. In this delightful inn, which, from the immense height at which it is placed, commands a most exten sive view, the traveller is astonished to find all the ac commodation and luxuries of the first hotels in Eu rope.
At the summit of the mountain there are several masses of fragments, and blocks of granite, called the altar and the sorcerer's chair. A clear spring of water is called the magic fountain, and the anemone of the Brocken is denominated the sorcerer's flower. These names derive their origin from the festival of the great idol Crotho, whom the Saxons worshipped in secret, at this immense and solitary height, while Christianity was extending her peaceful conquests over the plains below.
From the highest summit of the Brocken is seen a plain about 70 leagues in extent, peopled with five millions of souls. and occupying nearly the two-hundredth part of the whole of Europe The following are the of the mountain as taken by different observers: The principal curiosities of the Brocken are—the in sulated rock of Ilsenstein, rising to a height of 320 feet, and the rocks ol Schnarcher, Rennecke, and Hohne klippen, which are of inferior height ; the fall of the river Bode on the side of Rosstrapp ; the Rosstrapp, which is a wall of rocks cut perpendicularly, and form ing a precipice of from 500 to 800 feet ; and the Oder brucke, which is a dyke consisting of immense blocks of 1.,ranite, which stops the course of the Oder, and makes it form a huge lake of 10,138 square toises. In adaition to these objects of curiosity, the picturesque road along the Oderbrucke, the canal of Rehberg, and the grottos, called Baumanshole and Bielshole, are wor thy of particular notice. The latitude of the top of the Brocken is 51° 48' 25", and its longitude 28° 16' 20" east from the Ferro Isles. An account of the botany of this and the neighbouring mountains may be found in Gatterer's 4nleitung den Harz zu bereisen ; and an account of their mineralogical productions will he found in Lasius' Beo bachtungeniiber die Harzgebirge. See HARTZ. (j )