Obernautalsperre, Dam in Netphen, Germany
The Obernautalsperre is a dam that holds back the Obernaustausee, a reservoir covering 86 hectares in the Rothaargebirge. It lies in the Brauersdorf district of Netphen, and the water it stores supplies nearby towns and helps control flooding.
The dam was built in the 20th century to supply drinking water and control floods, and several settlements had to be abandoned for the reservoir. Since then, it has been managed by the Siegen-Wittgenstein water association.
The reservoir is a familiar landmark for people in the Siegerland region, who know it as a source of their drinking water. On walks around the water, you might notice signs explaining how the reservoir works and why the area is protected.
You can walk or cycle along paths around the reservoir, but some areas may be restricted to protect the drinking water. The site is best visited in daylight hours, and sturdy shoes are useful on the uneven ground near the dam.
The reservoir is overlooked by the Alte Burg, a hill that was used as a refuge and cult site around 500 BC. The dam is one of two reservoirs in the area, and the other one is smaller.
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