Chorinsky-Klause, Limestone dam in Bad Goisern, Austria

The Chorinsky-Klause is a dam in the Weißenbach valley built from limestone and standing about 28 meters tall. It has a central sluice gate and two gravel gates that allow for controlled water release through the valley.

It was built between 1809 and 1819 under the direction of forest master Pfifferling and replaced earlier wooden structures used for timber transportation since 1526. This new stone structure allowed for much better control of water flow than the older wooden systems.

The dam takes its name from Count Ignaz Karl Chorinsky, then vice-president of the Lower Austrian Hofkammer, in whose presence it was put into operation. Its opening, known as "Schlagen", drew summer visitors as early as the 19th century; the dam was opened annually in summer into the 2000s, though no timber was floated any more. Today it may no longer be opened for environmental reasons.

The dam sits in the Weißenbach valley near Bad Goisern and can be reached on foot from the valley path; the ground by the masonry is uneven, so sturdy shoes help. Since 2019 flood damage was repaired by autumn 2023, the structure is fully functional again, but releasing the water is no longer permitted for environmental reasons, so visitors see the closed gates rather than a torrent.

The sluice gate is opened by knocking out a wooden bolt with a pointed iron bar, after which the escaping water pushes the single-leaf gate outward at a discharge of 13 m³ per second. The gatekeeper's house beside the dam, built at the same time and covered by a hipped roof, now serves as a hunting lodge.