Obere Schleuse

The Obere Schleuse in Hinterhermsdorf is a barrage system on the German-Czech border river of Kirnitzsch and impounds the water over a length of 700 metres.

In the winter months, during when there are no boat trips, the water is not impounded and the Kirnitzsch flows in its original river bed.

These included the Obere and Niedere Schleuse ("Upper and Lower Locks"), which have the largest dams in Saxon Switzerland.

By opening the gates in the dam wall a flume of water was released that enabled the rafting of logs up to 11 metres long down to the River Elbe.

On 25 May 1879, with the support of Senior Forester (Oberförster) Schlegel and the population of Hinterhermsdorf, the first boat was launched on the Obere Schleuse.

The following year a second boat was added and, in 1881, the mountain club had a hut built and the boatman was able to offer summer-fresh ("Sommerfrischlern") food and drink.