  The very large collection area of ground-based gamma-ray telescopes gives
them a substantial advantage over balloon/satellite based instruments in the
detection of very-high-energy (>600 GeV) cosmic-ray electrons. Here we present
the electron spectrum derived from data taken with the H.E.S.S. system of
imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. In this measurement, the first of
this type, we are able to extend the measurement of the electron spectrum
beyond the range accessible to direct measurements. We find evidence for a
substantial steepening in the energy spectrum above 600 GeV compared to lower
energies.
