Fuelbecketalsperre, reservoir
The Fuelbecketalsperre is a small dam in Märkischer Kreis near Altena, built between 1894 and 1896. The stone structure stands about 27 meters tall and 145 meters long, holding roughly 700,000 cubic meters of water, with its basin shaped by two streams flowing in from opposite directions.
The dam was built between 1894 and 1896 and was the first in the Sauerland region. It was created to provide water for local industry in the valleys, especially during dry seasons when natural flow could not sustain mills and factories.
The name derives from the Fuelbecke stream that flows in from the east. Today locals and visitors use the area for peaceful walks and nature watching, valuing it as a quiet retreat in the landscape.
Visitors can walk on marked trails around the water where signs provide information about local fish species. Access is free, but swimming and water sports are not permitted since the water serves the drinking supply.
The structure displays Jugendstil decorative details and was designed by a professor from Aachen using the so-called Intze principle. This innovative building style with its ornamental stone features set the Fuelbecketalsperre apart from other industrial dams of the era.
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