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Landkreis Merzig-Wadern

Saar Lock and Dam

Landkreis Merzig-Wadern

Mettlach

Saar Lock and Dam

Highlight • Structure

Saar Lock and Dam

Recommended by 64 hikers out of 68

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Saar-Hunsrück

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Location: Mettlach, Landkreis Merzig-Wadern, Saarland, Germany

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Best Hikes to Saar Lock and Dam

4.8

(190)

736

hikers

1. View of the Saarschleife – View of the Saarschleife loop from Orscholz

14.8km

04:14

340m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.6

(115)

489

hikers

2. Montclair Castle – Sulphur Rock (Schwefelfelsen) loop from Mettlach

9.33km

02:43

250m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

188

hikers

3. Fähre Welles – Aussichtspunkt Kleine Cloef loop from Mettlach

16.9km

05:00

470m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Expert

Tips

Die_Ute

August 8, 2025

The expansion of the Saar between its confluence with the Moselle near Konz and Saarbrücken was carried out on the basis of an administrative agreement dated March 28, 1974, between the Federal Republic of Germany, Saarland, and Rhineland-Palatinate. The goal was to make the Saar navigable for the Europaschiff (1,350 t, Class IV waterway) and for pushed barges with a carrying capacity of up to 3,300 t. The expansion served to connect the entire economic area in the Saar Valley and the West Palatinate to the European waterway network and, above all, to improve the location of the Saarland mining industry. Previously, the only connection to the French canal system via the upper reaches of the Saar (Saar Coal Canal) existed for vessels with a carrying capacity of 300 t.

The Saar has a height difference of 55 m between the Trier (Moselle) barrage and the existing Saarbrücken barrage. This difference is now overcome by six barrages.

Expansion work began in 1976, and the first section between the estuary and Dillingen was completed in early 1987. The connection to the Dillinger Hütte waterway network enables the Saarland steelworks to be supplied with iron ore from overseas by water at the most cost-effective rate.

The Mettlach barrage (river km 31.2) is the second highest barrage at 11.00 m. It is equipped with two lock chambers (190 m x 12 m, 40 m x 12.75 m), three weir segments, and two turbines (2 x 2900 kW), as well as two generator sets with an installed capacity of 3900 kVA.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 220 m

Weather

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Saturday 1 November

14°C

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100 %

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Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Location: Mettlach, Landkreis Merzig-Wadern, Saarland, Germany

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Montclair Castle Ruins

Welles Ferry (Saarschleife)

Vogelfelsen Viewpoint

Former Abbey of Mettlach (Villeroy & Boch Headquarters)

Forest Path Near Käshütt

Saar River Between Besseringen and Schwemlingen

Old Abbey in Mettlach

Schloss Saareck

View of the Saar

Steinbachtal Waterfall

Saarschleife

Left Bank of the Saar

Saar Lock and Dam

1. View of the Saarschleife – View of the Saarschleife loop from Orscholz

2. Montclair Castle – Sulphur Rock (Schwefelfelsen) loop from Mettlach

3. Fähre Welles – Aussichtspunkt Kleine Cloef loop from Mettlach

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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