Möhne Reservoir

A managed reservoir in North Rhine-Westphalia formed by the Mf6hne Dam, created in the early 20th century to control the Mf6hne river and supply water and power. The dam and lake are significant for both engineering and local water management.

The reservoir is used for boating, angling and lakeside recreation and is ringed by walking and cycling routes. Small towns and picnic areas around the shoreline serve as the main access points for leisure activities.

Construction of the dam was completed in the early 1910s; the structure was breached by an Allied raid in 1943 and repaired after the war, remaining in service since then. The site includes interpretive material and memorials that note its wartime role.

The reservoir sits in the Sauerland region of North Rhine-Westphalia near the municipality of Mf6hnesee and the town of Soest, within reach of larger cities in the region.

• Age and use: The dam was completed in the early 1910s and the reservoir has been used for water regulation, power and recreation since then.
• Wartime history: The site is widely known for the 1943 breach during Operation Chastise, an event that shaped later wartime repair work and memorials in the area.

What to See #

• Mf6hne Dam: A dam completed in the early 20th century that created the reservoir and provides water regulation and hydro functions; it was breached by an Allied bombing raid in 1943 and subsequently repaired.