Harz, mountain range in central Germany, between the Elbe and Weser rivers. The northwestern part of the system is called the Upper Harz (average elevation 640 m/2100 ft above sea level) and the southeastern part, the Lower Harz (average elevation 305 m/1000 ft above sea level). The highest peak in the range is Brocken, rising to a height of 1,141 m (3,743 ft) above sea level in the Upper Harz. Abundant forests and pasturelands cover the slopes of both parts of the range, and fertile plateaus are located in the Lower Harz. The mountains are a popular destination for tourists, who come for the hiking, skiing, and spas. The mountain range, which contains veins of silver, lead, gold, copper, iron ore, sulfur, alum, and arsenic, has been mined since the 10th century. The quarrying of marble, granite, and alabaster, the manufacture of coarse lace, and the breeding of native songbirds, chiefly canaries, are also important occupations. Pagan traditions survived in the Harz region longer than in other parts of Germany, and they have given rise to a number of legends, many of which have been incorporated into German literature. The Walpurgis Night legend (see Walburga, Saint), centering on the Brocken, forms part of Goethe's Faust.