# Bílá Desná dam failure commemoration

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bl-desn-dam-failure-commemoration
> Updated: 2026-09-24T03:37:36.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 3.

In September 2026, events were held to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Bílá Desná dam failure in the Jizera Mountains. The disaster occurred on September 18, 1916, when the dam, completed in 1915, collapsed and sent a massive surge of water, debris, and stones into the valley. The catastrophe resulted in the deaths of between 62 and 67 people and destroyed various structures, including homes, a sawmill, and glassworks.

Technical research indicates the collapse was likely caused by insufficient geological surveys, as the dam was constructed on compressible gravel deposits and a deep tectonic fault, leading to internal erosion. 

The anniversary commemoration on September 19 drew approximately 3,000 attendees and featured cultural performances. The event was a collaborative effort between the towns of Desná and Albrechtice v Jizerských horách, alongside several regional environmental and water management agencies.

Following the disaster, the site—often referred to as ‘Protrženka’—has transitioned from a place of tragedy into a significant tourist destination. While remnants of the dam and a sluice tower remain in the forest, the valley has undergone revitalization through local improvements. The area now attracts approximately 200,000 tourists annually, representing a fourfold increase compared to 2015.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-24: Bílá Desná dam site marks 110 years since catastrophic failure

The Bílá Desná dam site in the Jizera Mountains commemorates the 110th anniversary of its 1916 failure, noting its transformation from a site of tragedy into a major tourist destination.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bl-desn-dam-site-marks-110-years-since-catastrophic-failure

### 2026-09-21: Bílá Desná dam failure commemoration marks 110th anniversary

Approximately 3,000 people gathered in the Jizera Mountains to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Bílá Desná dam failure, a 1916 tragedy that claimed 67 lives.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bl-desn-dam-failure-commemoration-marks-110th-anniversary

### 2026-09-16: Bílá Desná dam failure anniversary commemorated

A memorial service marks the 110th anniversary of the 1916 Bílá Desná dam failure in the Czech Republic, a disaster that killed dozens and destroyed much of the valley.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bl-desn-dam-failure-anniversary-commemorated

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Cite as: Bílá Desná dam failure commemoration. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bl-desn-dam-failure-commemoration