Lüdenscheid - Versetalsperre

In the 19th century, the region today known as "Ruhrgebiet" developed from a rural area to the centre of German heavy industry. The expanding industry and the rapidly growing population caused a sudden increase in water consumption along the Ruhr.

In 1899, the "Ruhrtalsperrenverein" was founded. Already in 1904 it was able to commission four dams with a total storage capacity of 16 million cubic meters. Today the "Ruhrverband" operates eight dams with a total volume of 463 million cubic meters. The main function of these dams is to secure the water supply for around 4.6 million people living in the "Ruhrgebiet".

The "Versetalsperre" ("Verse Dam") is the fourth largest reservoir in the hilly "Sauerland" area. Only Bigge, Möhne and Sorpe are larger. The construction started in 1929 and - interrupted several times - was completed in 1952.

During the time of Nazi Germany about 5000 forced workers from all over Europe worked here. At least 550 of them did not survive the slavery. They were killed by starvation, hard labour, beatings and shooting.