Stauanlage Schmala, reservoir in Germany
Stauanlage Schmala is a dammed reservoir near Brilon-Wald in the Hochsauerland region that holds water from the Schmala stream. The earthen dam stands about 14 meters tall and stretches approximately 100 meters across, creating a small lake that covers roughly 2.3 hectares and stores around 109,000 cubic meters of water.
Water extraction from the Schmala valley began in 1905 when Brilon first started drawing from the streams for drinking purposes. The current dam was constructed between 1988 and 1989 to replace smaller reservoirs built in the 1950s, addressing the region's growing demand for drinking water and flood control.
The lake is easy to reach on foot via walking trails that circle the water. The northern part of the loop sometimes floods during heavy rains, but further along you can cross the water by stepping on large stones, making it an enjoyable spot for families exploring the forest paths.
The lake is also known as Silbersee and sits close to Bruchhauser Steine, a formation of large natural stone blocks. Many visitors combine a trip here with hiking to these distinctive rock formations or to Langenberg, one of the highest peaks in the area.
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