It lies in the Bode valley in the High Harz in central Germany, at a height of 505 m above NN.

which is in the upper third of the values recorded by the weather stations of the German Meteorological Office.

In a Vogtei account for the Amt of Elbingerode (Harz) dated 1506/07 there is an entry which states: "Income from the sawmill at Elend in the Forest XII March" (Innome von der Sagemoln zum Elende deß Forst XII Mar[k]).

On 1 January 2010, the municipality of Elend merged with the municipalities of Sorge, Stiege and Tanne, as well as the towns of Elbingerode (Harz), Hasselfelde and Benneckenstein (Harz), forming the town Oberharz am Brocken.

Not far from Elend is the Helenenruh, a rocky ridge with outstanding views, which is checkpoint no.