Desná Dam, Historical dam ruins in Mariánská Hora, Czech Republic.
Desná Dam is the remains of a failed reservoir structure in Mariánská Hora, Czech Republic, with visible fragments of a control tower and drainage channel surrounded by dense spruce forest. The foundation walls emerge from the undergrowth and still outline the original structure at the edge of a narrow stream valley.
Construction began in 1912 to supply water to the growing industrial region and was largely completed by 1915. In September 1916 the dam wall gave way under the pressure of accumulated water and released a deadly flood wave downstream.
The name recalls the valley of the river Desná where engineers planned to store drinking water for nearby communities. Visitors now walk a quiet forest path with wooden sculptures honoring those who lost their lives in the disaster.
Access is on foot along marked hiking trails that start from several parking areas in the surrounding forest. The paths can be slippery when wet, so sturdy footwear is advisable for the approach through the woods.
The remaining cavities in the broken walls now shelter bat colonies during the winter months. Information panels along the trail describe the tragedy as the largest disaster in Czech water engineering history.
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