Lonau is a small village with a population of about 345 situated at an elevation of about 400m in the Harz Mountains of Northern Germany.
After merging in the village centre the river Große Lonau flows down to Herzberg.
Surrounding hills include the Heuer to the southwest, the Braakberg to the west and north, the Kargeskopf to the north, the Franzosenkopf and the Großer Mittelberg to the northeast, the Langfast to the east, the Hirtenberg to the southeast and the Großer Teichtalskopf to the south.
[2] Lonau is mainly visited in summer by holiday walkers and in winter by cross country skiers.
At least five checkpoints in the Harzer Wandernadel system are easily reached on foot from Lonau: Kastanienplatz (no.