Cranzahl Dam

Cranzahl Dam
Cranzahl Dam, December 2006
Location	Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony,  Germany
Coordinates	50°30′14″N 13°00′13″E / 50.50389°N 13.00361°E / 50.50389; 13.00361
Construction began	1949–1952
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	earth-fill dam
Height (thalweg)	32
Height (foundation)	36
Length	428
Crest width	6
Volume	335000
Impounds	Lampertsbach, Moritzbach
Reservoir
Capacity	3,2 Mio. m³
Active capacity	3,1 Mio. m³
Catchment area	9.25
Surface area	0.35
Normal elevation	715.05

Cranzahl Dam (German: Talsperre Cranzahl) is a dam in the Free State of Saxony in East Germany. It was built from 1949 to 1952 near Sehmatal-Cranzahl and the Bärenstein mountain in the Ore Mountains to supply drinking water to Annaberg-Buchholz and the surrounding area. Together with the Sosa Dam it was one of the two biggest dam construction projects of the newly-created GDR. In keeping with the time it was called the Dam of Friendschip (Talsperre der Freundschaft).

The actual dam itself is a crooked earth-fill dam with a sloping inner seal of loam. It is a large dam based on ICOLD criteria. The streams impounded by it are the Lampertsbach and the Moritzbach.

A trafficable track runs along the dam crest (500 metres). Bathing and water sports in the reservoir are not permitted. However there is a circular path of 3.5 kilometres for walkers, mountain-bikers and skiers.

See also

• List of dams in Germany

External links

• Information by the State Reservoir Administration