Aar Dam

The Aar Dam and its reservoir, the Aartalsee, lie in the upper Aar valley in the German state of Hesse. Both are in the municipalities of Bischoffen and Hohenahr in the county of Lahn-Dill-Kreis and about 15 km northwest of the town of Gießen in Hesse. On the lakeshores lie the villages of Ahrdt and Mudersbach, both part of the parish of Hohenahr. Since 1991 the dam has impounded the River Aar, a left-hand tributary of the Dill in the Gladenbach Uplands. The reservoir is also fed by the Stadterbach, Wilsbach (into the forebay), Weidbach and Meerbach (into the main reservoir).

Aar Dam
The main dam and reservoir.
Aar Dam is located in Germany
Aar Dam
Location of Aar Dam in Germany
CountryGermany
LocationLahn-Dill-Kreis
Coordinates50°41′59″N 08°27′17″E
Construction began1984
Opening date1991
Dam and spillways
Type of damEmbankment, rock-fill
ImpoundsAar
Height (foundation)15 m (49 ft)
Height (thalweg)14 m (46 ft)
Length270 m (890 ft)
Elevation at crest272.5 m (894 ft)
Width (crest)6 m (20 ft)
Dam volume90,000 m3 (3,200,000 cu ft)
Spillway capacity75 m3/s (2,600 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesAartalsee
Total capacity4,085,000 m3 (3,312 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area60.5 km2 (23.4 sq mi)
Surface area57 hectares (140 acres)
Normal elevation270 m (890 ft)
Installed capacity0.25 MW (340 hp)

Use
Site plan of the Aar Dam

The dam is primarily used for flood protection for the Aar and Dill. In Winter the reservoir is filled to a capacity of 1.33 million m³; in summer this rises to 1.84 million m³. Other uses are: raising low water levels, electricity generation, fishing and recreation. As a result, the dam and reservoir also contribute economically to the region. The reservoir was opened in 1992 as a bathing lake.

Its operator is the county council of Lahn-Dill-Kreis and the Dillgebeit Water Association.

See also
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