Sihlsee

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Sihlsee

Map
Location	Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland
Coordinates	47°07′N 8°47′ECoordinates: 47°07′N 8°47′E
Lake type	reservoir
Primary sources	Sihl, Minster
Primary outflows	Sihl
Basin countries	Switzerland
Max-length	8.5 km
Max-width	2.5 km
Surface area	11.3 km²
Max-depth	17 m
Water volume	96 mio m³
Surface elevation	889 m
Settlements	Gross, Willerzell, Birchli, Euthal

The Sihlsee (in English sometimes called Lake Sihl) is an artificial lake near Einsiedeln in the Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland. Its concrete dam is 33 m high and 124 m long. The lake is the largest artificial lake of Switzerland in terms of surface with a maximum length of 8.5 km and maximum width of 2.5 km. The largest depth measures 17 m.

The power plant project started in 1932. A concrete dam and two viaducts over the lake were built before 1937 the valley was flooded. Thus 55 farms disappeared completely and 1762 persons had to leave their homeland.

The Sihlsee has a volume of approximately 96 millions m³ and feeds the Etzelwerk in Altendorf at the Upper Lake Zurich which supplies current for the Swiss Railways SBB.

The break of the concrete dam of the Sihlsee could lead, according to studies, to an 8 m high flood wave in the city of Zürich, the biggest city in Switzerland.