If you’re even a little bit familiar with the geography of Switzerland, you’ve probably noticed that the country has an insane amount of dams. That’s because the Swiss are serious about sustainable energy sources, and just like they’ve got countless solar panels and wind parks, they’ve got numerous dams and hydroelectric complexes.
While the dams were built to help generate electricity, many of them are popular tourist attractions. Each dam is usually accompanied by a reservoir or an artificial lake that allows swimming, boating, and sometimes even fishing. Keep reading to learn more about the most famous Swiss dams!
Table of Contents
Grande Dixence Dam
The Grande Dixence Dam rises to an elevation of 285 meters and it’s the tallest dam in Switzerland. It’s also a very popular tourist attraction because of the nearby hiking paths, gondola rides, the zipline, and spectacular panoramic views.
This massive dam is part of the country’s largest hydroelectric complex. This complex alone manages to generate approximately 20% of the electricity utilized throughout the entire Switzerland, which is absolutely an important contribution.
Verzasca Dam (Contra Dam)
The Verzasca Dam, also known as the Contra Dam, is one of the most famous dams in Switzerland thanks to its surprisingly rich film history. It was featured in the James Bond movie Goldeneye, as well as in The Amazing Race reality show.
This arch dam manages to generate electricity for approximately 10,000 homes in the Ticino canton. It’s a popular tourist destination for bungee jumping, and also swimming in the dam’s reservoir, Lago di Vogorno.
Mauvoisin Dam
The Mauvoisin Dam is a concrete arch dam, as well as the second-highest construction of its kind in the country. It rises to 250 meters and has a total storage capacity of 211,500,000 m3. That’s amazing, especially because the dam is able to generate electricity for approximately a quarter of a million households.
This dam is also popular with tourists, and activities around the dam include fishing, boating, guided tours of the dam, and just hiking in the surrounding area. The Mauvoisin Dam is surrounded by tall mountains and offers beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes.
Luzzone Dam
The Luzzone Dam is situated in the Swiss Alps, and it’s the tallest dam in the Ticino canton. This dam is often featured on the How Ridiculous YouTube channel, and if you’ve watched any of his drop tests, you’ve probably already seen a glimpse of this Swiss dam.
What’s special about the Luzzone Dam is that one of its walls features the highest artificial climbing wall in the entire world. It was installed by a German manufacturer of climbing holds, and there are more than 650 holds and bolts built into the dam. So, if you’re in the mood for some climbing, this is definitely one of the most special spots in Switzerland.
Emosson Dam
The Emosson Dam is located in the Valais canton and it impounds Lac d’Émosson. The reservoir covers a total surface area of 2.25 square kilometers, and it’s a popular destination for tourists in Switzerland. This dam and its reservoir are mostly visited by hikers, who want to experience the scenic views of the surrounding mountains.
The Emosson Dam was constructed in the early 70s, and it provides water to two different power stations. Its purpose is also to prevent flooding and help with the regulation of the River Trient’s flow.
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Les Toules Dam
Les Toules Dam is another dam in the Valais canton. Its construction was completed in 1964, and it was the first arch dam built in this Alpine country. The dam is only 86 meters high so it’s not one of Switzerland’s tallest dams, but it certainly is one of the more important.
This dam helps provide water to the Grande Dixence hydroelectric power plant, and it prevents flooding of the Dranse River. It’s interesting that the construction of this dam required the village of Les Toules to be flooded and relocated, and it’s how the dam got its name.
Marmorera Dam
The Marmorera Dam is situated in the Graubunden canton and it was initially constructed by the Zurich Electric Company. This dam has a capacity of up to 200 million cubic meters of water, and it is capable of generating up to 120 MW of electricity.
The dam is also famous because of its correlation to the flooded village of Marmorera. In the 1950s, the villagers were offered nice sums of money to vacate their homes, so that the dam could be constructed. The dam was necessary to provide electricity to the residents of Zurich, and an agreement was eventually reached among the villagers, although many did oppose the construction of the dam.
Mattmark Dam
The Mattmark Dam is interesting because it is Europe’s largest earth dam. It impounds the Mattmarksee reservoir, which sits on an elevation of 2,197 meters above sea level. The dam is very important for the Valais canton, as it helps provide electricity to approximately 150,000 households in the region.
This dam was constructed in the 1960s, and what an undertaking that was. It was built in two phases, and during the second phase of construction, a horrible accident happened on-site. The Allalin glacier collapsed, and 88 construction workers were buried under the ice and debris of the glacier.
Göscheneralp Dam
The Göscheneralp Dam is considered a medium dam with a height of 155 meters. It’s situated in the Uri canton, and it’s an earth-fill dam that impounds the Göscheneralpsee reservoir. The artificial lake is popular with visitors for boating, plus there are many excellent hiking trails in the dam’s immediate surroundings.
There’s also a restaurant here and an exhibition space, so it’s a solid tourist destination even for people who don’t consider themselves very outdoorsy. The dam’s reservoir can hold up to 75 million cubic meters of water, which in turn allows it to provide electric power to approximately 100,000 households.
Grimsel Dam
The original dam at Grimsel Pass is the Spitallamm dam. It impounds Grimselsee, which is the largest of all artificial reservoirs in Switzerland. This dam was originally constructed in the 1930s, and at the moment of writing this, a new Grimsel Dam is being built to replace it.
The construction began in 2019, but due to the climate in the area, the construction cannot take place during the coldest months of the year. The snowy conditions make it extremely difficult to reach the construction site, plus concrete doesn’t cure that well in extreme colds. The new dam will be a double curvature arch dam, meaning it will have both vertical and horizontal arches, and it should be 113 meters tall.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dams does Switzerland have?
Switzerland has approximately 220 major dams, but more than 1,000 small-scale dams as well.
What is the importance of dams in Switzerland?
Dams in Switzerland are important for a variety of reasons, the most notable of which are flood control, water supply, hydroelectricity, and various other environmental benefits.
Which dam is the most famous in Switzerland?
The Grande Dixence Dam is Switzerland’s most famous dam because it is the highest gravity dam in the world. The Verzasca Dam is a close second, and probably the more popular tourist attraction of the two because of its inclusion in the James Bond Goldeneye movie.
