Opperode

Opperode lies east of Ballenstedt on the northern edge of the Harz Mountains. The village has 456 inhabitants. The total area of the municipal area is 2.51 km². The population density is thus 181.7 inhabitants per km². The actual built-up area is 0.16 km². The village pond Opperode is located in the village. South of Opperode lies the Stahlsberg.
Opperode gained a certain regional importance as a mining area for hard coal and the only hard coal mining area in Anhalt-Bernburg. Hard coal mining probably began as early as the early 16th century. In 1573, permission was granted for the construction of a new shaft. From 1740 to 1824, intensive hard coal mining took place. The coal was mainly supplied to the copper smelters in the Mansfeld region and the salt works in Staßfurt. From 1852 to 1860, attempts were made again to mine hard coal. In 1869, hard coal mining in Opperode was finally stopped.

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