Where the Mills of Niedersachsen Clack

For hundreds of years it was the most effective means of generating energy - wind or water drove the sails of the mills or the waterwheels and relieved man of important work in the production of his daily bread. Steam engines, diesel and electric motors displaced the mills and many became superfluous and were eventually pulled down. There are still around 800 water and 600 wind mills in Niedersachsen and in the last few years some mill enthusiasts have even reconstructed derelict old windmills.

Some buildings have even ended up in their entirety in museums like the International Mill Museum in Gifhorn. The town is part of the Niedersachsen mill route, which connects up 90 mills.

Some mills still carry out their work, milling grain or generating electricity. Which is where the circle of history comes round again, because once more a portion of our energy is being generated using wind power – the sails of wind generators are turning on Niedersachsen's hills, fields and coast, generating electricity in an effective and environmentally friendly way.

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