Dyke Ditch

The dam trench is the longest man-made ditch in the Upper Harz. His purpose was for the operation of the above harzer mining industry from distant high rainfall areas derive surface water (especially from Bruchberg and of parts of the Brocken massif ). It was built from 1732 to 1827 always extended further to the east. His original total length was about 25 km; this could be shortened by the construction of water courses in the years 1820 to 1861 successively to about 19 ​​km. He is a central part of the Upper Harz Water Regale. Its name comes from the Sperberhai dam, with a sink area was bridged.

History

The history of the dam trench depends first closely with the history of Sperberhai dam. It was not until its completion in 1734 could be developed east of Clausthal with the Great and Little Gerlach Bach richer waters. In subsequent years, the dam ditch was always extended further to the east: the first extension takes place in 1736 to the Little Oker. 1742 the construction of the side trench Morgenbrodt Taler ditch that diverted the Large and Small Söse towards dam ditch. 1774 was the extension to the so-called cradle of the dam trench and 1820 could after excavation of the two Kellwasser watercourses and conditioning of the Bloch loop trench the Kellwasser and the Bloch loop are connected to the dam grave system. The last expansion occurred in 1827, as further outflows in the east of the quarry mountain, and in the west of the Brocken in the Upper Harz mining could be harnessed with the installation of Clausthal flood trench, the trench and the Flörichshaier Abbegrabens. A further extension would have been possible, but was not discussed. It is now trying to control the energy problem in the Upper Harz Mining fundamental by building deeper water drainage gallery (Ernst -August- studs). In addition, other forms of energy ( steam engine ) were first used in addition to hydroelectric power from the second half of the 19th century.

But the mid-19th century was still an optimization in the area of ​​10 km long section between Sperberhai dam and Clausthal: Through the investment of watercourses (water transfer tunnel ) several mountain -passes of the trench could be considerably shortened. In addition to significant advantages in entertainment and in the winter this is likely to have played an important role in the increase of the slope ( shorter distance at the same altitude) and thus the hydraulic capacity. These built around 1850 Upper Harz waterways include the Rothenberger watercourse, Covent Haier watercourse which Dietrich Berger watercourse and the Biel Wieser watercourse.

In middle age the dam ditch could lead to 13 million cubic meters of water per year over the Sperberhai dam on the Clausthal plateau. He was thus one of the main arteries of the Upper Harz mining.

After closure of the mines, the dam ditch served until about 1978, the power generation in Clausthal Kaiser Wilhelm Schacht. Since 1978, the water of the dam trench is supplied via the location at the end of the dam ditch Mönchstal the Okertalsperre where it also drives turbines to generate electricity and can then be provided drinking water for the Harzwasserwerke available.

Until about 2000, the dam ditch was also the drinking water supply of the mountain town Altenau. This use was discontinued because the raw water supply especially during harsh winters was very uncertain and could change the quality of the water very quickly.

Operator of the dam trench are the Harzwasserwerke GmbH today.

Catchment area

The dam ditch draws its water from the field of six Harz rivers:

  • Söse over the Morgenbrodstaler ditch (1715-1718, length 3,970 m)
  • (Also called Rotenbeeker ditch ) Sieber on the Clausthal Flutgraben (1797, length 3,900 m)
  • Or about the Clausthal Flutgraben and Flörichshaier ditch (1826, length 1050 m)
  • Ecker about the Abbegraben (1827, length 1540 m)
  • Hullabaloo about the Abbegraben
  • Oker over the dam ditch (1725-1840; length 14.690 m)

For the system of the dam trench overcomes several watersheds.

Numbers and orders of magnitude

Overall, the dam digging in its present state is 19 kilometers long. Of these, 15.4 km open ditches and 3.6 km underground watercourses (water transfer tunnel ). Depending on how you count its associated grave system can be assigned up to 49 km in total length. Way, he crosses over most of the course route, only a height difference of about 60 m. His flow is at a maximum at about 1 m / s

Others

Along the dam trench runs the Harz Witches leading from Osterode to Thale.

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