Bütgenbach!
No one would have heard about Bütgenbach if it wasn't for it's barrage. Of course this is not the Hoover dam!
As a small village in the heart of the ardens it is easely overlooked but its barrage gives this little gem an extra.
Watersports and fishing are still on top of a vacationers list!
In the thirties of the previous century there was a big expantion in the Belgian industry. There was a lot of need for this
new source of energy called "electricity". Recently the belgium territory was expanded with the german speaking minority of the "eastparts" as a payment of the damage
after the First worldwar. This hilly country lends itself good to the building of a dam and so was it done.
On this picture you can see the country before (sepia) and after (color) the construction.
This was 70 years ago and like every construction a dam needs maintanance as well. So one day in 2004 someone pulled the plug out of this
mammoth bath-thub and the water drained away (I like to look at it this way but it was of course carefully planned and took about a month).
At that moment a time capsule was exposed! Since 70 years the water collects stuff. Stuff
people lose while recreating. Stuff that never floats. Stuff that floats but not anymore.
The bottom of the lake becomes a giant "stuff" museum. At least for a short while. By the time you read this, dear reader, engineers have closed the flood gates again
and the valley becomes the lake again it once was.
This was a unique experience to me... At that time I wasn't aware of it and it all seemed quite dull but it was only after returning to the lake and seeing it
filled again that I realise that I will never be able to do it again.
Follow me for a walk 20 M below the waterline!
ps: I don't have pictures from the filled lake but i will add them later.
