Mittweida (river)

The Mittweida in Raschau: downstream view.

The Mittweida is a right tributary of the black water in the Ore Mountains in Saxony. Its two source rivers Large and Small Mittweida Mittweida flowing west along Crottendorf. For black / Erzgeb. opens the Mittweida into the black water. The Mittweidatal has long been used intensively timber industries.

Course

It occurs west of Crottendorf from these two rivers:

• The Great Mittweida rises at the rear Fichtelbergbahn ( 1206 m) in the Ore Mountains and flows through the Mittweidatal Crottendorfer forest to the north. At the mouth of Erbisbachs is the Wolfner mill.

• The Small Mittweida originates at Taufichtig (1000 m) and has a length of 7 km.

Soon after its creation, the Mittweida is accumulated in the lower basin of the pumped storage plant markers Bach. Much of the previously located at this point settlement Obermittweida was dismantled in 1969 and flooded during the construction of pumped storage power plant. Only at low water level individual foundations can still be seen.

After leaving the dam the Mittweida flows west. The villages marker Bach, Mittweida, Raschau are (all day districts of Raschau marker Bach), Grunstadtel and Wildenau (both districts of Schwarzenberg / Erzgeb. ) On its banks. After inflow of Schwarzenbach and Oswaldbach in the latter place the Mittweida empties into the black water.

The lower reaches of the Mittweida was considered until the 19th century as part of the Pöhlwassers; this can be found on several old maps. Accordingly, it was then assumed that the Mittweida empties into the Pöhlwasser.

History of Mittweidatals

In Mittweidatal has been used in early times the hydroelectric power for woodworking intensive. The first houses of the valley are the former wood mill weavers and Haifischbar (also a former wood mill ), now known as Forest Hotel Crottendorf ( currently vacant ). A single multi-family house and a garage complex are at the point where until the early 70s another wood mill and a house stood. This is followed by the now dilapidated Wolfner mill, which had in the 30s its heyday as a convalescent home and was used until the 80 years as fdgb holiday home. Continue down the valley follow the Dietrich- mill and even a single dwelling house, until you come to the lower reservoir of the pumped storage plant markers Bach. Also in the other places of Mittweidatals the water power of the river was used for wood grinding. On 12 and 13 August 2002 the days of the flood of the century, a maximum feed rate of 36 m³ / s was measured on Einleitmesspegel of the lower pelvis. The Vattenfall AG, the operator of the pumped-storage plant, limited the supply from the lower reservoir on 10 m³ / s This amount could be removed from the river and protected the places marker Bach and Raschau to the confluence of the Pöhlwassers against severe flooding and damage. During the day several million cubic meters of water were buffered from the pumped storage plant. This performance is remarkable, since the current production had to be stopped. The upper reservoir was filled with 6 million m³ ( full back ) water. The operators and all the participated in this decision have heard the highest respect, because they had to take the risk with catastrophic weather conditions one earth dam at 850 m HN to be filled with this amount of water so as to prevent more serious damage downstream.

Attractions

• Permanently protected meadow near the mill Wolfner
• Lower reservoir of the pumped storage plant markers Bach