Verse Reservoir, reservoir in Germany
Verse Reservoir is a large dam between Lüdenscheid and Herscheid that holds water for the region's supply since 1952. The structure, approximately 320 meters long and over 60 meters high, is built from stone and earth with concrete elements and uses specialized internal tunnels to regulate water flow through its basin.
Construction began in 1929 under difficult economic conditions and finished in 1952, with prisoners of war and forced laborers working on the project during World War II, many of whom died. A memorial near the dam honors these victims and preserves the difficult history of this structure.
The reservoir shapes the region's identity as a place where water management and local resilience intersect. The surrounding communities regard this water body as central to their infrastructure and collective memory, particularly through the memorial that honors those who died during its construction.
The reservoir is easy to reach by car near Autobahn 45 with free parking at two main spots and bus stops nearby. Swimming, water sports, and camping are not permitted as it protects the drinking water supply, but walkers, cyclists, and licensed anglers can use the area.
A small power plant at the dam's base uses water flow to generate electricity, a still-functioning relic from its construction era. This system demonstrates how the infrastructure serves multiple purposes while producing clean energy for the local region.
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