The Historical Needle Dam

The peculiar dam you’re looking at may seem like a tangle of old wooden beams, but it’s Lucerne’s needle dam. These wooden beams—or needles—maintain the optimal water level of the lake. Lake Lucerne is fed by several sources, yet the water only exits through the River Reuss. By controlling the amount of water flowing out, the city can regulate the lake’s level. This manually operated system was built in 1860 and upgraded in 2011. It’s still operated by hand, and works remarkably well. Historically, needle dams were used in many regions. The wooden beams can be raised or lowered to adjust the water flow, adjusting to changing conditions and weather. In case of exceptionally high water, the dam can release a third of the lake’s water, an important feature for preventing floods. Take a moment to appreciate this ingenious system before turning right onto Burgerstrasse.