Déviation de la Kander, River control structure in Bern, Switzerland.
The Kander River control system is a water management structure in Bern that diverts the river through an artificial canal directly into Lake Thun, bypassing its original downstream course. The installation consists of channels and control mechanisms that have regulated water flow between the two bodies of water for centuries.
In the early 1700s, Samuel Bodmer oversaw the construction of this canal between 1711 and 1714, employing hundreds of workers to complete the ambitious engineering task. The project was one of the region's first major river diversion attempts and established a model for future water control efforts.
The redirection allowed farmers in the region to work their land with greater confidence, as the destructive floods that once plagued harvests became far less frequent. This change shaped how people used and valued the surrounding territory for centuries.
The system is visible from various viewpoints along the lake and canal, allowing visitors to observe how it operates and its impact on the landscape. The best time to visit is spring and early summer when water levels are highest and the system works at full capacity.
The project permanently altered where the river flows, so it never rejoined the Aare River as it once naturally did, but instead found its own path into the lake. This change was so complete that generations of local residents grew up never knowing the original course.
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