Photos

My Paragliding Nomadness took me to the Czech Republic where I discovered a delightful little campground on the shores of Lake Lipno, an artificial lake in Southern Bohemia created by the Lipno Dam. This image shows the morning mist rising from the lake. Even though it is not far across, the mist obscures the far shore, which is the amazing Šumava National Park.

Lipno dam was supposed to be filled slowly beginning March 1 1958. Buildings, which stood in flood zone were quickly demolished. Bridges were removed. People worked in winds, cold and snow. The intention to fill reservoir slowly could not be carried out because of a sudden thaw. Water from melted snow begun rapidly filling the reservoir.

On February 17 the water level reached 715,15 m and the dam stopped about 12 and half millions of cubic meters of water. But the water level was still rising. Outlets of gravitational block were opened to reduce the volume of water and put on dam the lowest burden. Although most of preparatory works were done in time, the flood caught workers unprepared. In Frymburk the inroad to bridge from right side was under water, so the town was isolated from the rest of the country. To protect bridge from damage by ice, floes had to be blown out during night of February 16 with explosives.

The first written mention of Frymburk is from 1277. Originally it belonged to the Lords of Krumlov and after 1302 to Rosenbergs. The town dates from 1379, originally a market village from the late 13th century on the trade route from upper Austria to Bohemia. The Rosenbergs established a toll-road at the bridge across the Vltava River which was already mentioned in 1305. In 1492 Peter Wok von Rosenberg granted the town certain rights which freed the citizentry from serfdom. The right to brew beer was granted by Wilhelm von Rosenberg and Emperor Franz II confirmed Frymburk's privilege which had been granted by Emperor Josef II on 28 April 1789, allowing the town a weekly Tuesday market as well as a Christmas market (Jarmark) on St. Ann's day.