Heilenbecker Talsperre, Drinking water dam in Breckerfeld and Ennepetal, Germany.
The Heilenbecker Talsperre is a drinking water dam built across the boundary of Breckerfeld and Ennepetal with a stone construction that sits within the rolling terrain of the Bergisch Land region. A walking path circles the entire water body, allowing visitors to explore the site from multiple viewpoints.
The structure was built between 1894 and 1896 and represents the oldest storage dam in South Westphalia. It was constructed during an era when reservoir dams were seen as modern solutions for supplying water to the rapidly growing industrial region.
The dam reveals how engineering works from that era were integrated into the landscape and serves today as evidence of that building craft for visitors and residents.
The dam is freely accessible and the walking paths circling the water are well marked and easy to navigate. Plan enough time for the full circuit and bring weather-appropriate clothing, as the paths are exposed to changing conditions.
The reservoir is fed by two different streams that first flow through a small pre-basin before entering the main structure. This arrangement allows the dam to balance fluctuating inflows and maintain consistent water quality.
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