Vodní nádrž Harcov Water structure

Welcome to Harcov water tank. You're standing right in front of a place where the power of nature combines with human wit and courage. The water level in the valley of the Harcovsky creek is decomposing before you, which today is peaceful and the trees of the surrounding countryside are hovering over it. It's a place that's likely to impress you with its atmosphere of peace and tranquility, but behind that look is a fascinating story from the beginning of the last century.

When you look at this structure, you don't just have to see a recreational place, but above all a monumental protective shield. To understand why this tank was even built, we need to go back more than a hundred years in time. In July, a thousand eight hundred ninety-seven struck this area with catastrophic floods. The water has destroyed many homes and caused huge damage that has left a profound impression and fear of future floods in people. It is this tragedy that has become the main impetus for the creation of a project which was to protect the city of Liberec definitively from similar disasters. At the same time, a solution was sought to ensure a reliable water supply for a very strong industry in the region.

Now let's look at how this idea turned into reality. The whole project was designed by a renowned expert Otto Intze. His plans were presented in a thousand nine hundred and one. The work was not easy, because construction in the valley required precise planning. In November of the year a thousand and nine hundred and two began the first earth work, which meant huge transfers of clay and stones. The crucial moment was then the 27th June of the year a thousand nine hundred and three, when the foundation stone of the dam itself was ceremonially laid. The whole building progressed very quickly and as early as twenty-ninth April in the year one thousand nine hundred and four the work was completed and officially handed over for use.

Now pay attention to the very structure that stands before you. Notice her mass. It is not just the ordinary wall, but the first valley in Bohemia. That means she was the first in her size and the way she closed the valley of the creek. But even more important is the fact that it is the first heavy wall dam in Central Europe. The word "heavy" means that its stability and its ability to hold a huge amount of water lies in its own weight and wall thickness. When you look at the surface of the dam, realize that this structure has to face the constant pressure of water from one side while remaining completely stationary.

If you're wondering what this building is made of, the answer lies directly below the surface you see. Three quarry stones were used for construction, which were located in the flood area. That was a very clever procedure. The quarry was in a place that was then to be flooded with water, so the material did not have to be transported from a distance. The stones were extracted right here, processed and then inserted into the dam body. It is fascinating to think that the material that forms the foundations of this work comes from places that now lie far below the surface of the tank.

The names of the men who have given their vision and support to it are linked to this construction. In addition to Otto Intze's said designer, they played their role as an important figure of their time. These included František Clam-Gallas, Leopold Riedel or Karl Zimmermann. These people were the top in the area of administration, financing and technical leadership at that time. Thanks to their cooperation and determination, they managed to build a work in such a short time, which at that time represented the peak of water construction.

Now I'm going to lead you to one interesting thing, which will help you imagine the role Harcov played in a broader context. In a thousand and nine hundred and six, this tank became part of a large German-Czech exhibition. Imagine this place not as today's silent park, but as a center of attention, where thousands of visitors from different counties flowed. At that time, the tank was a symbol of modernity, technical progress and man's victory over the destructive power of water. It was the pride of the region that showed that people were able to turn tragedy into something useful and beautiful.

Nowadays, Harcov is no longer primarily a flood defense or a factory storage facility, although it maintains its technical functions in the core. It has become a popular resting place for the inhabitants of Liberec and visitors from the surroundings. It's a space where you can exhale, walk around the water and forget the rush of the city. But it is important to remember that this peace is redeemed by the precise work of engineers from the early twentieth century.

Now, when you look around, feel the contrast between the massive wall structure and the fineness of the surrounding nature. This building is a bridge between the past, when water was a danger, and the present, when water is a source of relaxation and beauty. It is a monument to the human ability to respond to a crisis of balance and create things that will last generations.

Imagine how workers moved here over a century ago with spade in their hand, how it sounded the sound of hammers hitting a rock, and how, in the year one thousand nine hundred and four, the water of the valley first flooded and created this python that you see today. It's a place with its own soul that tells the story of courage, technical progress and care for the safety of the people.

Now I invite you to walk along the shore at a slow pace and to observe the power of the dam from different angles. Try to imagine the three quarries that disappeared below the surface, and think about how much work it took to build the first valley tank in our countries. Explore the surrounding paths, perceive the splendour of water and let the atmosphere of this unique water work engulf you.

Thank you for spending some time with us at Harcov Water Tank. We hope that you are interested in this short trip to history and that you are now seeing more than just a pond in the landscape. We wish you a pleasant rest of the day and a pleasant exploration of this beautiful place. Goodbye.