| Edersee | |
|---|---|
 An aerial view of the Edersee | |
  Edersee | |
| Location | West Hesse Depression,Hesse |
| Coordinates | 51°11′36″N9°02′16″E / 51.19337°N 9.037851°E /51.19337; 9.037851 |
| Catchment area | 1,443 km2 (557 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Germany |
| Max. length | 28.5 km (17.7 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.2 km (0.75 mi) |
| Surface area | 11.8 km2 (4.6 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 41.7 m (137 ft) |
| Water volume | 199,300,000 m3 (7.04×109 cu ft) |
| Surface elevation | 244.97 m (803.7 ft) |
| Settlements | Waldeck |
TheEdersee, also known as the Ederstausee, is an 11.8 km2 (4.6 sq mi)reservoir inWaldeck-Frankenberg,Hesse,Germany holding back an estimated 199.3 million m3 (7.04 billion cu ft). It has the second-largest area (behind theForggensee), and the third-largest volume (behind theBleilochstausee andRurstausee), of all reservoirs in Germany. It is on the chief western tributary of theFulda, theEder, behind the 48 m-high (157 ft)Edersee Dam near the town of Waldeck in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district ofNorth Hesse.
The dam and reservoir[1] are owned by the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, whoseHann. Münden Waterways and Shipping office is locally responsible. The primary purpose is provision of water for the federal waterways, theOberweser andMittellandkanal. The dam also protects downstream residents from small and medium floods, generates electrical energy and the lake is used for sports and leisure.
Being in the Naturpark Kellerwald-Edersee and theNationalpark Kellerwald-Edersee and overlooked by Waldeck Castle, it and its surroundings constitute a large recreational/touristic area, economically as well as a reserve for mature trees, woodland flowers, fungi and lichens, wildflowers, animals such as deer, foxes, badgers and occasionally theEurasian wolf.
This fairly brief central portion of theEder has its dam near Hemfurth-Edersee, about 35 km (22 mi) south-west ofKassel, linked by a winding road. The lake stretches from the joining of a tributary, short ofHerzhausen, in the west to the dam aforesaid. Beyond an intermittent band of tree-lined fields to the south associated with two shoreside villages is the "Ederhöhen", very high, often steep, wooded foothills to theKellerwald mountain range – together they form a protected upland forest roughly congruent with theNationalpark Kellerwald-Edersee.
This is the largest lake in Hesse. It takes in four bends, sharp meanders, to its south side.
| International | |
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| National | |
