The ruptured Desná Dam

The most famous dams of the mountains include Desná Dam, today referred to as the Ruptured Dam. The purpose of the construction of the waterworks on the Bílá Desná was protection against flooding. Construction of the dam was completed in 1915. However, approximately ten months later, on 18 September 1916, two foresters saw a trickle oozing out of the dyke's body. They informed the dyke, who was ordered to open the caps in the dam body. However, the spring grew stronger and the workers in charge of opening the closures feared for their lives and abandoned the site. Seventy minutes later, the levee burst, all the retained water gushing into the valley, destroying homes and taking lives. During the 80th anniversary of the dam's rupture, a kilometer-long nature trail with six stops was created here.

Today you can walk to the Ruptured Dam by two equally long paths from Albrechtice or Desná. The paths are lined by sculptures dating from several years of the Dřevosochána in Desná. Make your way with humility to the water element to a place that was supposed to protect and instead caused disaster.