Großer Brombachsee

Großer Brombachsee is a reservoir in the Franconian Lake District in northern Bavaria, Germany. It is fed and drained by the Brombach. Together with its two pre-dams, the Kleiner Brombachsee and the Igelsbachsee, it forms the region Brombachsee.

Großer Brombachsee
Location of Großer Brombachsee in Germany
Location	Middle Franconia, Bavaria, Germany
Coordinates	49.130847°N 10.935173°E / 49.130847; 10.935173
Construction began	1983
Opening date	1999
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Gravity dam
Impounds	Brombach
Height	36 m (118 ft)
Length	1,700 m (5,577 ft)
Width (base)	200 m (656 ft)
Dam volume	3,500,000 m3 (120,000,000 cu ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Großer Brombachsee
Total capacity	132,000,000 m3 (4.7×109 cu ft)
Catchment area	627 km2 (242 sq mi)
Surface area	9 km2 (3 sq mi)

Description

Inaugurated in 2000, the Brombachsee is the largest reservoir in the Franconian Lake District and the largest still water in Franconia. The lake is one of the largest dams in Germany, both in terms of surface area and storage volume. In addition to flood protection in the Altmühl valley, its main purpose is to regulate water levels in northern Bavaria, where rainfall is low. For this purpose, the lake can be filled across the continental divide from the Altmühl via the Altmühlsee up to the reservoir level of 410.5 metres. Via smaller tributaries, water can be released into the Regnitz, which flows into the Main, up to the drawdown limit of 403.5 m. In addition to water management purposes, the lake is also used for recreation, leisure and fishing.