Wasserübergabe Hamm, Hydraulic engineering structure at Datteln-Hamm Canal, Germany
Wasserübergabe Hamm is a structure with a pumping station and turbine system on the Datteln-Hamm Canal that regulates water flow between the Lippe River and the canal network. The facility uses a flap weir to raise Lippe water to 58.15 meters and create elevation differences for hydroelectric power generation.
The structure began operations in 1914 when the Datteln-Hamm Canal opened and replaced an earlier pumping station at the Alte Fahrt bridge. It was part of major canal projects that equipped western Germany with a modern water transport network.
The facility demonstrates early 20th-century engineering solutions and shows how the region managed water resources for both shipping and power production. Visitors can observe engineering work that shaped the daily life and economic activity of western Germany.
The facility is visible from outside and best accessed from the pathways along the canal, where you can observe the technical structures. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the paths can be muddy depending on weather conditions.
The flap weir creates a height difference of several meters between the river and the canal, allowing turbines to generate electricity as water passes through. This side effect of water regulation was an early use of hydropower in the German canal system.
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