Article Broken dam

The construction of an earthen dam at an altitude of over 800 meters was intended to provide flood protection for the foothills, which were plagued by frequent floods in the 19th century. The Desná Dam was completed in 1915, simultaneously with the nearby Souš Reservoir, which is still operational today. Unfortunately, its life was tragically short. Only ten months after the final approval, fatal errors in the design and construction became apparent.

On Monday, September 18, 1916, lumberjacks noticed the first trickle of water flowing out from under the dam. The initial trickle quickly grew larger, and at 4:15 p.m., the paving on the upstream side began to collapse. It then quickly sank to the bottom of the reservoir, leaving only the top of the crown. This then collapsed into the wild stream of flowing water. The entire dam eventually broke, causing a catastrophic flood wave.

The dam burst had unimaginable consequences. 62 people lost their lives, 100 houses were severely damaged or completely destroyed, 370 people lost their property and 1,020 lost their livelihoods. The consequences of the disaster were visible along the entire course of the Desná, Kamenice and Jizera rivers, all the way to Železný Brod.

Not long after the tragedy, the area became a popular place of worship and a tourist attraction. In 1996, the site was declared a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Today, the area of the Broken Dam is a national cultural monument and forms a unique and venerable place. Only parts of the dam that have withstood the force of the elements and time remain. The most dominant remnant is the gate tower, which stands right in the middle of the former dam and acts as a guardian of the entire site. The remains of the spillway cascade and the broken place itself, which is today the bed of the Bílá Desná, can also be seen.

In the westernmost part of the area are the remains of a safety spillway. There is also a pleasant resting place here.

The Protržená dam cannot be reached by car, the journey is always on foot along tourist trails. The location is popular among tourists and cyclists, also thanks to the fact that it is a great starting point for further trips in the Jizera Mountains.

The Jizera Mountains are dotted with places that commemorate the fictional Czech genius Jára Cimrman. This is also the case at this place.

There is a shelter with a terrace where refreshments are served in the season. Out of season, there is a self-service refreshment bar where you can also get beer.