Previous interpretations of magnetotelluric data from the vicinity of the German Deep Drilling Project (KTB) revealed two major structures: a midcrustal layer of increased conductivity and large, regional extent and a highly anisotropic upper crust. Nevertheless, a satisfactory combination of both structures explaining all measurements has not yet been achieved, mostly due to incomplete and qualitatively poor data. Simplified superposition of both structures could not yield an explanation of the observations. On the basis of a carefully processed new data set we apply different modeling approaches to verify the existence of both structures. Models calculated with a two-dimensional modeling program, which allows for general anisotropy, as well as a full three-dimensional code show that an anisotropic upper crust is overlaying a regional east-west striking high-conductivity structure. Nevertheless, this continuous conductive midcrustal layer with a conductance decreasing from north to south must be replaced by a quasi-anisotropic one, at least in the region of the KTB. The final model may still be oversimplified, considering the complexity of the true but unknown geology in this particular area, but it demonstrates which major electrically effective structures could be resolved. ¿ 2001 American Geophysical Union