Bassin de Champagney, reservoir in France
The Bassin de Champagney is a large reservoir created by a dam on the Rahin river, holding approximately 13 million cubic meters of water across a surface of over 1 square kilometer. The dam extends roughly 785 meters in length and rises about 36 meters above the valley floor, its concrete structure made from large interlocking blocks designed to withstand the water pressure.
Construction of the dam began in 1882 with the goal of supplying water to a canal that would connect regions for transportation and industry. After decades of technical challenges, particularly with waterproofing, the reservoir was finally put into full operation in 1949.
The reservoir takes its name from the village of Champagney where it sits. Today visitors come to walk, fish, and sit quietly by the expansive water, making it a place where people spend time with nature and reflect on their surroundings.
The site is easy to access for visitors wanting to walk, fish, or spend time by the water. You can follow paths around the basin that stretch for several kilometers, offering views of the expansive surface and the dam structure from different angles.
During World War II, aircraft dropped two bombs into the reservoir that did not explode on impact. The bombs remained at the bottom for over 40 years until specialists safely recovered them in 1987, a hidden chapter of the site's history.
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