Zillierbach Dam

Zillierbach Dam
Zillierbach Dam is located in Germany
Zillierbach Dam
Location of Zillierbach Dam in Germany
CountryGermany
LocationHarz
Coordinates51°47′21″N 10°46′36″E / 51.78917°N 10.77667°E / 51.78917; 10.77667
Construction began1934
Opening date1936
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity dam
ImpoundsZillierbach
Height47 m (154 ft)
Length186 m (610 ft)
Width (crest)3.5 m (11 ft)
Dam volume54,000 m3 (1,900,000 cu ft)
Reservoir
Total capacity2,830,000 m3 (100,000,000 cu ft)
Catchment area10.7 km2 (4.1 sq mi)

The Zillierbach Dam (German: Zillierbachtalsperre) lies in the East Harz in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt near the town of Elbingerode (Harz) and impounds the Zillierbach stream. It supplies drinking water to several villages in the High Harz (Elbingerode, Elend (Harz), Schierke, teilweise Rübeland) as well as the town of Wernigerode; it also provides flood protection.

The Zillierbach was known as the Holtemme until the 16th century, then from 1558 as the Zilgerbach. Not until much later was it given its present name. Before the construction of the dam at Peterstein, it supplied the mills in Wernigerode and in the area around Halberstadt. Its variable water supply was evened out by an artificial ditch on the south side of the Hohneklippen, the Wormsgraben, built in the late 12th century.