Rappbode Dam
Encyclopedia
The Rappbode Dam is the largest dam
in the Harz
region as well as the highest dam in Germany
. Together with several other dams and retention basins, it forms the flood protection system for the eastern Harz.
: Diversionary dam on the River Bode just before the confluence of the Warme Bode
and Kalte Bode
at Königshütte partially diverts water from the Bode into a diversion channel to the Rappbode Dam (to provide drinking water). The rest of the water flows down the Bode directly into the reservoir of the Wendefurth Dam
.
Hassel Auxiliary Dam
and Rappbode Auxiliary Dam
: Auxiilary dams on the Hassel and Rappbode which help the retention of rocks, mud and nutrients.
Mandelholz Dam
: Upstream dam on the Kalte Bode, which rises at the foot of the Brocken. Flood protection and retention of rocks and nutrients ahead of the main barrier.
Wendefurth Dam
: Supplementary dam downstream which acts as flood protection and stores water for the Wendefurth Pumped-Storage Power Station
.
, Halberstadt
, Bernburg (Saale), Halle (Saale) and even Leipzig
. Its water quality is particularly good; water hardness averages 3° on the German hardness scale. So the water is ideal for use for steam generation and washing. The reservoir also contributes to generation of hydro-electric power to a small extent.
material of which it is composed. Before the reservoir was created, these rocks dominated the old route between Hasselfelde
and Rübeland
where it crossed the Rappbode on a stone bridge that is now drowned by the reservoir. The Rotestein is checkpoint 54 in the Harzer Wandernadel
hiking network. It may be reached on foot from the car park on the B 81, around 800 metres SE.
hiking network.
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
in the Harz
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
region as well as the highest dam in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Together with several other dams and retention basins, it forms the flood protection system for the eastern Harz.
The individual dams
Königshütte diversionary damKönigshütte Dam
The Königshütte Dam is a dam in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt in the Harz mountains. It impounds the River Bode and lies between Königshütte and Susenburg...
: Diversionary dam on the River Bode just before the confluence of the Warme Bode
Warme Bode
The Warme Bode is the right-hand headstream of the River Bode in the High Harz mountains of central Germany in the states of Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt...
and Kalte Bode
Kalte Bode
The Kalte Bode is the left-hand headstream of the River Bode in the High Harz Mountains in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is long.-Name:...
at Königshütte partially diverts water from the Bode into a diversion channel to the Rappbode Dam (to provide drinking water). The rest of the water flows down the Bode directly into the reservoir of the Wendefurth Dam
Wendefurth Dam
The Wendefurth Dam near Wendefurth in the Harz is one of the dams downstream of the Rappbode Dam, that provides flood protection as well as impounding the River Bode to provide the lower reservoir for the Wendefurth Power Station...
.
Hassel Auxiliary Dam
Hassel Auxiliary Dam
The Hassel Auxiliary Dam or Hassel Dam is an auxiliary dam or pre-dam on the Rappbode Reservoir in the Harz mountains of central Germany. It is located near Hasselfelde in the state of Saxony-Anhalt and impounds the waters of the Hassel, the eastern of the two headwaters of the Rappbode Reservoir...
and Rappbode Auxiliary Dam
Rappbode Auxiliary Dam
The Rappbode Auxiliary Dam is one of the two auxiliary dams in the Rappbode Dam system. This is the heart of the Rappbode Dam system in the East Harz, which is operated by the Saxony-Anhalt Dam Company and which also includes the Hassel Auxiliary Dam and the Königshütte, Mandelholz and Wendefurth...
: Auxiilary dams on the Hassel and Rappbode which help the retention of rocks, mud and nutrients.
Mandelholz Dam
Mandelholz Dam
The Mandelholz Dam holds back the Kalte Bode Flood Control Basin which is a flood protection reservoir located between the villages of Elend and Königshütte near Wernigerode in the Harz mountains of Germany...
: Upstream dam on the Kalte Bode, which rises at the foot of the Brocken. Flood protection and retention of rocks and nutrients ahead of the main barrier.
Wendefurth Dam
Wendefurth Dam
The Wendefurth Dam near Wendefurth in the Harz is one of the dams downstream of the Rappbode Dam, that provides flood protection as well as impounding the River Bode to provide the lower reservoir for the Wendefurth Power Station...
: Supplementary dam downstream which acts as flood protection and stores water for the Wendefurth Pumped-Storage Power Station
Wendefurth Power Station
Wendefurth Power Station is a pumped-storage hydroelectric power station on the reservoir of the Wendefurth Dam near Wendefurth in the Harz mountains of central Germany....
.
History
The earliest discussions about building flood protection barriers took place following devastating floods at the beginning of the 20th century. These envisaged a number of masonry dams being constructed across the tributaries of the Bode river. The first concrete plan, however, was to build just one dam but this would have meant sacrificing a number of villages. The eventual project work was completed in 1938 and proposed a plan which avoided flooding any of localities by constructing a number of dams. Construction on the Rappbode Valley Dam began in 1938. Construction was halted due to the war in 1942. After 1945, the newly-founded East Germany, the project got under way again and was extended by including the treatment of drinking water, the original layout being retained and the technology being adapted. The foundation stone was laid on 1 September 1952 and, on 7 October 1959, the dam went into service. It was reconstructed between 2000 and 2003 and the national emblems of East Germany on the inscriptions at the tunnel exit of the road across the dam were removed. The two inscriptions on the left and on the right read:Main dam
The barrier is a straight gravity dam, which holds the water back by its sheer weight. It was built in several sections and finished in 1959. It is 106 metres (347.8 ft) high and 415 metres (1,361.5 ft) long. In recent years (before 2002) the crest of the dam was renewed. The roadway and the concrete had weathered and could no longer handle the weight of traffic. The lake behind the dam acts primarily as a reserve drinking water reservoir for the towns east of the Harz. The pressure pipes go to AscherslebenAschersleben
Aschersleben is a town in the Salzlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated approx. 22 km east of Quedlinburg, and 45 km northwest of Halle .-Pre-20th century:...
, Halberstadt
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
, Bernburg (Saale), Halle (Saale) and even Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. Its water quality is particularly good; water hardness averages 3° on the German hardness scale. So the water is ideal for use for steam generation and washing. The reservoir also contributes to generation of hydro-electric power to a small extent.
Rotestein
There is a viewing point on the Rotestein with information boards about the reservoir and the surrounding area. Rotestein means "red rock", the name being derived from the colour of the diabaseDiabase
Diabase or dolerite is a mafic, holocrystalline, subvolcanic rock equivalent to volcanic basalt or plutonic gabbro. In North American usage, the term diabase refers to the fresh rock, whilst elsewhere the term dolerite is used for the fresh rock and diabase refers to altered material...
material of which it is composed. Before the reservoir was created, these rocks dominated the old route between Hasselfelde
Hasselfelde
Hasselfelde is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated in the eastern Harz, approximately 17 km south of Wernigerode. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Oberharz am Brocken...
and Rübeland
Rübeland
Rübeland is a village in the collective municipality of Elbingerode in the district of Harz in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and, since 2004, has been given the additional description of Höhlenort...
where it crossed the Rappbode on a stone bridge that is now drowned by the reservoir. The Rotestein is checkpoint 54 in the Harzer Wandernadel
Harzer Wandernadel
The Harzer Wandernadel is a network of checkpoints for walkers in the Harz mountains in North Germany. It includes a system whereby the hiker can earn badges at different levels by walking to the various checkpoints in the network and recording them...
hiking network. It may be reached on foot from the car park on the B 81, around 800 metres SE.
Rappbodeblick
There is another good, but more remote viewing point on cliffs overlooking the reservoir at Rappbodeblick about 3 kilometres N of Hasselfelde as the crow flies. It is checkpoint no. 56 in the Harzer WandernadelHarzer Wandernadel
The Harzer Wandernadel is a network of checkpoints for walkers in the Harz mountains in North Germany. It includes a system whereby the hiker can earn badges at different levels by walking to the various checkpoints in the network and recording them...
hiking network.