The 1916 collapse was caused by the lack of a proper waterproof seal at the base, which allowed water to infiltrate the subsoil.
The dam design was supervised by engineer Wilhelm Plaenckner, whose reputation was destroyed by the tragedy.
The failure occurred only 10 months after the dam was officially commissioned.
Downstream of the dam, 33 houses were destroyed and 69 others were severely damaged.
The site remains a case study in hydraulic engineering textbooks regarding the importance of geological foundation studies.
A commemorative stone plaque marks the location of the breach.
The Burst Dam (Protržená přehrada) in the Jizera Mountains is the site of a catastrophic failure of a stone masonry dam that occurred on September 18, 1916. Built on the Bílá Desná River between 1912 and 1915, the dam collapsed less than a year after its inauguration due to improper foundation stabilization. The rupture released over 300,000 cubic meters of water in minutes, causing massive downstream destruction and 62 fatalities. Today, the site preserves the remnants of the original spillway, a gate tower, and a gallery tunnel. It is a protected technical monument and a symbol of early 20th-century engineering failure. Nature has reclaimed much of the impact zone, creating a forest path route that connects the remains. The location is integrated into the local hiking network of the Jizera Mountains.
The elevated view from the remains of the dam crest looking down into the breach.
Wear sturdy hiking boots as the terrain is uneven and can be muddy.
Bring a headlamp if you plan to explore the accessible concrete gallery/tunnel sections.
Combine your visit with the marked nature trail that explains the history of the disaster.
Do not attempt to hike the area during heavy rainfall or winter snowmelt, as the forest paths become slippery and dangerous.
Respect the site as a memorial to the 1916 tragedy; avoid excessive noise.
