The Saidenbach Dam (German: Talsperre Saidenbach) is a dam in the German state of Saxony. Its reservoir supplies drinking water to Chemnitz and, in conjunction with the Central Ore Mountain Dam System (Talsperrensystem Mittleres Erzgebirge) and its other dams - Neunzehnhain I und II and Einsiedel - contributes to the supply of the region covered by the South Saxony Long Distance Water Association (Zweckverbandes Fernwasser Südsachsen).
| Saidenbach Dam | |
|---|---|
 The Saidenbach Dam | |
  Location of Saidenbach Dam in Germany | |
| Location | Erzgebirgskreis |
| Coordinates | 50°44′09″N 13°14′03″E / 50.73583°N 13.23417°E |
| Construction began | 1929–1933 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Haselbach, Saidenbach, Lippersdorfer Bach, Hölzelbergbach |
| Height (foundation) | 58.5 m (192 ft) |
| Height (thalweg) | 48 m (157 ft) |
| Length | 334 m (1,096 ft) |
| Elevation at crest | 440.3 m (1,445 ft) |
| Width (crest) | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Dam volume | 203×103 m3 (7.2×106 cu ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 22.95×109 m3 (18,610,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Active capacity | 22.38×109 m3 (18,140,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 60.8 km2 (23.5 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 142 ha (350 acres) or 146 ha (360 acres)[further explanation needed] |
| Normal elevation | 438.8 km2[citation needed] |
To a lesser extent the dam is also used to generate electricity and for flood protection.
The actual dam is a curved gravity dam made of rubble stone and based on the Intze Principle. The dam was built from 1929 to 1933 in the vicinity of Lengefeld in the Ore Mountains and was taken into service in 1933. It is a "large dam" according to ICOLD criteria. The streams impounded are the Haselbach, Saidenbach, Lippersdorfer Bach and Hölzelbergbach.
A public footpath runs along the dam crest. Bathing and leisure sports in the reservoir are not permitted, but the public may walk around the reservoir and it is also available for fishing.
The Saidenbach Dam also has a pre-dam (Forchheim) and ten upper basins, of which four are usually filled.
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