Rückhaltebecken Glashütte, reservoir in Germany
The Rückhaltebecken Glashütte is a retention basin near Glashütte designed to hold back floodwaters and protect the region during heavy rainfall. The dam is constructed from stone and earth, stands approximately 30 meters (98 feet) tall, and measures about 167 meters (548 feet) in length, with special waterproof layers of geotextile and bentonite materials to prevent seepage.
The basin was first constructed in 1951 and completed in 1953 to protect the town from flooding caused by heavy rainfall in the region. Following a severe flood in August 2002 that damaged the original spillway, the structure was comprehensively rebuilt and expanded between 2010 and 2013, increasing its storage capacity from approximately 70,000 cubic meters to over one million cubic meters.
The basin is not open to visitors and access is restricted to authorized personnel, though the structure can be viewed from the road that runs across the top of the dam. During maintenance or flood events, this road may be closed for safety reasons, so check for local traffic updates.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
