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65 years of the Bigge Dam: A monument to water management in the Sauerland!
Discover the history of the Bigge Dam in Sauerland, an important structure and recreational lake whose construction began in 1965.
65 years of the Bigge Dam: A monument to water management in the Sauerland!
The Biggetalsperre in the Sauerland: A huge engineering structure and its history
On November 4, 1965, construction began on the Bigge Dam in southern Sauerland, which has now established itself as one of the largest water management projects in the post-war period. In the following weeks, the entire valley was flooded, putting villages such as Listernohl, Ronnewinkel, Stade and Eichhagen under water. This flooding forced 2,555 people to flee their homes, which had a profound impact on the region. The construction of the dam took almost a decade and included the construction of the main dam, auxiliary dams, underground water pipes and a complex system for diversion of rivers and streams. Ruhr24 reports that…
The provisions of the project were enormous. A total of 37 kilometers of new roads and 31 kilometers of paths were created around the dam, and the transport infrastructure had to be adapted, including a new route for the Olpe-Finnentrop railway line and the construction of 34 bridges, including two double-decker bridges. These large-scale measures make it clear how much the Bigge Dam was intended not only as a technical challenge, but also as an important lifeline for the region.
Technical data and functions
With a height of 52 meters above the valley floor and a crown length of 640 meters, the Bigge Dam is impressive. The total volume of the complex structure is 1,900,000 cubic meters. During the parceled years of construction, 2,550 people were relocated and major investments amounting to 250 million euros went into the realization of the project. The dam dams the left tributary of the Lenne to form Biggesee, which is now used primarily for leisure and recreation and has established itself as the largest artificially created lake in Westphalia. Wikipedia further states that…
The storage volume of 171.7 million cubic meters not only enables the Ruhr area to be supplied with raw water, but also provides a flood protection area of 32 million cubic meters. The coupled hydroelectric power plant generates around 22 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually. The diverse opportunities for water sports and the tourist infrastructure are also important for the region's residents. There is sailing, surfing, rowing and even diving. Hiking and cycling are also popular on the newly created paths.
The current significance of the Bigge Dam
Given its impressive size and capacity, the Bigge Dam is one of the largest dams in Germany and the second largest in North Rhine-Westphalia. It has not only shaped the landscape, but also the lives of the people in the area. The renovation of the main dam in 2015, which involved an investment of around seven million euros, ensures the long-term use and safe operation of the facility. These investment strategies are necessary to maintain the structure over the years and ensure the safety of the dam.
In addition, the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association has published a digital photo collection from the construction period, which can be found under the title “Dietrich Collection”. This offers a fascinating insight into the impressive work that was carried out between 1956 and 1965.
There are a total of 380 large dams in Germany. The Bigge Dam, with its height of 52 meters, meets the international and national criteria, making it one of the largest water management facilities. The dam committee highlights...
The Bigge Dam remains not only a technical masterpiece, but also an important part of the cultural heritage and leisure activities in North Rhine-Westphalia.