Speicherbecken Witznitz, lake
The Speicherbecken Witznitz is a large reservoir near Borna in Saxony, created in an old mining pit and held back by a dam. The lake covers between 210 and 570 hectares depending on water level and is surrounded by forests and fields.
The reservoir was built between 1950 and 1954 and opened in 1954, after the former coal mining area Witznitz I was closed in 1945. Since 1961, a pipeline from the Sermuth River supplies water, allowing the facility to adapt to growing needs.
The name comes from the former Witznitz I lignite mine that shaped the area. Today, visitors use the space for walking and fishing, with the yellow brick factory building on the east shore standing as a reminder of the industrial past.
The area around the lake is easily accessible via paths and invites walking and cycling, especially on the natural trails around the water. Visitors should know that fishing is practiced and motorboats are not allowed, but small rowing boats and canoes are permitted.
Water is supplied by a pumping station in Sermuth from the Freiberger Mulde River, showing how the facility is carefully adapted to the region's natural waterways. This technical solution makes it possible to provide clean water to the nearby Lippendorf power plant.
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