The village of Heyda is located 6 km north of the town of Ilmenau. The road from Ilmenau through Unterpörlitz to Heyda leads through extensive pine forests where berries and mushrooms grow in abundance. The village of Heyda was first mentioned in a document in 1351. However, Heyda must have existed earlier, as an entry in a Paulinzella chronicle from 1282 reads: "It is a settlement in the heath, which is particularly overgrown with birch and oak trees." The dam is located approx. 1.2 km from the village. It has a water surface area of 100 a and a capacity of 5.4 million m³. It is a magnet for recreationists and vacationers. It is a true paradise for many species of waterfowl. A circular hiking trail around the dam reveals the beauty of nature.