reservoir
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reservoir
An artificial lake created by building a dam in order to store water, for example for generating electricity or as a drinking water reservoir.
Im Sommer fahren wir oft zum Schwimmen und Bootfahren an den nahegelegenen Stausee.
In the summer, we often go to the nearby reservoir to swim and go boating.
'Stausee' (reservoir) is made up of 'stauen' (to dam up, hold back water) and 'See' (lake). So it is a lake whose water is artificially held back by a dam.
Dieser riesige Stausee versorgt die ganze Region mit Trinkwasser.
This huge reservoir supplies the whole region with drinking water.
To describe a position by the water, you use 'am Stausee' (at/by the reservoir). For movement into the water or being in it, you use 'in den' (into the) or 'im Stausee' (in the reservoir).
Wir haben am Stausee ein Picknick gemacht.
We had a picnic by the reservoir.
Reservoirs are often mentioned in connection with two topics: leisure activities such as hiking or swimming, and the generation of energy through hydropower.
Das Kraftwerk am Stausee produziert sauberen Strom für Tausende Haushalte.
The power plant by the reservoir produces clean electricity for thousands of households.
dam / reservoir
The Stausee is clearly the artificially created reservoir. Talsperre normally refers to the structure that holds back the water, but regionally it can also refer to the reservoir itself. When talking about the water, Stausee is the unambiguous choice across German-speaking regions; when talking about the dam or retaining wall, Talsperre is appropriate.
Der Stausee liefert der Stadt Trinkwasser und Strom.
The reservoir supplies the city with drinking water and electricity.
Die Talsperre hält das Wasser des Sees zurück und schützt das Tal vor Überschwemmungen.
The dam holds back the lake's water and protects the valley from flooding.
