Rur Dam

Rur Dam
CP_Rurtalsperre-Wasser.jpg
Aerial shot of the Rur Dam, Schwammenauel and Roer Reservoir with the Tonsberg peninsula (left centre), island of Eichert (centre) and peninsula of Eschauel (rear right)
LocationStädteregion Aachen, Kreis Düren
Coordinates50°37′57″N 6°23′55″E / 50.63250°N 6.39861°E / 50.63250; 6.39861
Construction began1934–1938,
1955–1959
and 1961
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsRur; others see below
Height (foundation)77.2 m (253 ft)
Height (thalweg)69.5 m (228 ft)
Length480 m (1,570 ft)
Elevation at crest284.43 m (933.2 ft)
Width (crest)15 m (49 ft)
Dam volume2.6×10^6 m3 (92×10^6 cu ft)
Reservoir
Total capacity203.2×10^6 m3 (7.18×10^9 cu ft)
Active capacityincl. Obersee 202.6×10^6 m3 (7.15×10^9 cu ft)
Catchment area288.1 km3 (69.1 cu mi)
Surface area7.83 km2 (3.02 sq mi)
Maximum length10.6 km (6.6 mi)
Normal elevation281.5 m (924 ft)

The Rur Dam (German: Rurtalsperre Schwammenauel) is a 77.2 metre high dam located in the southwestern part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. It was built in 1939 and impounds the Roer to form the Roer Reservoir (Rurstausee or Rursee) which is 7.83 km2 in area. It lies within the districts of Aachen and Düren.