The Edersee, also known as the Ederstausee, is an 11.8 km2 (4.6 sq mi) reservoir in Waldeck-Frankenberg, Hesse, Germany holding back an estimated 199.3 million m3 (7.04 billion cu ft).
It has the second-largest area (behind the Forggensee), and the third-largest volume (behind the Bleilochstausee and Rurstausee), of all reservoirs in Germany.
It is on the chief western tributary of the Fulda, the Eder, behind the 48 m-high (157 ft) Edersee Dam near the town of Waldeck in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district of North Hesse.
The dam and reservoir are owned by the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, whose Hann. Münden Waterways and Shipping office is locally responsible. The primary purpose is provision of water for the federal waterways, the Oberweser and Mittellandkanal. The dam also protects downstream residents from small and medium floods, generates electrical energy and the lake is used for sports and leisure.
