Rückhaltebecken Gissigheim, Detention basin in Gissigheim, Germany.
The Rückhaltebecken Gissigheim was a flood control facility in the Brehmbach watershed area, featuring a dam approximately 10 meters high with considerable storage capacity. The basin was designed to capture water during heavy rainfall and protect surrounding communities.
The facility was built in the 1950s to manage large volumes of water for flood control purposes. In 1984 the dam failed during extreme rainfall, destroying the structure completely.
The site reflects how local communities approached water management and flood protection through infrastructure. Visitors can still observe remaining structures that show the importance of such systems for the region.
The site is now open landscape where visitors can explore the remains of the old facility. Be aware that only fragments such as the outlet and stilling basin are visible today.
The 1984 disaster left lasting marks on the region: the dam failure caused enormous damage and revealed the limits of this flood protection system. The ruins today serve as a reminder of that dramatic moment and how powerful natural forces can be.
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