Staufensee, reservoir in Austria
Staufensee is an artificial reservoir in Dornbirn held back by an arched stone dam and nestled in a natural basin between steep rock faces. The water collects here at around 1,970 feet (600 meters) elevation and serves a connected power station for electricity generation while providing flood protection to the area.
After a flood in 1824, an initial dam was built between 1828 and 1834, but it was severely damaged by another flood in 1891. The current arched stone dam was rebuilt afterward, and from 1899 onward the facility began generating electricity, with some power station machinery continuing to operate today.
The reservoir takes its name from the nearby Staufen mountain, whose distinctive cone-shaped peak rises prominently above the water. Visitors come here today to experience the quiet interaction between the water and surrounding rock formations in their natural setting.
The reservoir can be reached via a marked walking path that leads from the Rappenlochschlucht and takes about 15 minutes to complete the circuit. Parking is available near the gorge, making it accessible for families and visitors of varying fitness levels.
The connected power station contains machinery over 120 years old that still operates and is visible through windows. This demonstrates how long hydroelectric power has been generated in this region and makes the technical heritage of the site tangible to visitors.
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