The dam is part of a complex that includes the first pumped-storage power plant in Poland, utilizing the 440-meter elevation difference to Mount Żar.
During its construction in the 1930s, it was the second-largest hydro-engineering project in the Second Polish Republic.
The reservoir created by the dam, Jezioro Międzybrodzkie, covers an area of approximately 3.8 square kilometers.
The dam is the lowest of the three reservoirs comprising the Soła Cascade.
The project was designed to regulate the flow of the Soła River, which was historically prone to destructive flooding.
The Zapora Porąbka is a concrete gravity dam located on the Soła River in the Silesian Beskids, creating the Międzybrodzkie Reservoir. Constructed between 1928 and 1936, the dam was designed to control flooding and provide hydroelectric power. It stands approximately 37 meters high and has a crest length of 260 meters. The structure forms the second reservoir in the 'Soła Cascade' project, positioned between the Tresna and Czaniec dams. The dam is integrated into the Porąbka-Żar pumped-storage power plant system, which utilizes the elevation of the nearby Mount Żar. Visitors can access the top of the dam to view the reservoir and the surrounding mountain landscape. The installation is a key component of the regional water management infrastructure of southern Poland.
The center of the dam crest looking toward the mountain slopes of Mount Żar.
Park in designated areas near the village of Międzybrodzie Bialskie rather than on the main road shoulders.
Walk across the dam crest to see the contrasting water levels between the reservoir and the river outflow.
Do not attempt to swim in the reservoir near the dam wall, as the water currents and depth can be unpredictable.
Maintain caution near water edges; pedestrian traffic on the dam must stay within marked walkways.
