The 5 best dams in South Bohemia
The south of our republic is famous for its water bodies, be it ponds, lakes, quarries or dams. With them, you can chase away boredom and practice all kinds of hobbies. The water in the south of Bohemia is attractive not only for its swimming possibilities, but also for the abundance of fish and opportunities for practicing water sports. People and their pets are invited to cool off by the water, have fun, dance, meet friends or just take a walk. South Bohemia has been paying for the traditional pond since the 12th century, when the establishment of ponds had just begun to penetrate our countries. And they have maintained that status ever since. But it's not just the ponds that attract attention, there are also southern Bohemia connected significant and large dams, where you can literally just admire human effort and greatness.
Lipno Dam
The most famous South Bohemian water reservoir was built in an area of less than 50 m2 between the years 1952 and 1959. This monumental building holds several firsts in the Czech Republic, because it is the largest water area and at the same time the largest water reservoir. The dam for this amount of water is 25 meters high and its length is around 300 meters. The Lipno Dam is visited by a large number of tourists every year, who stay in a number of hotels, campsites and recreational resorts located near the Lipno Dam. You can have fun here not only swimming, fishing, canoeing, yachting, windsurfing or paddleboarding, but also on land on a bobsleigh track or in a rope park.
Orlík dam
The Orlík water dam is located near the village of the same name, but it is named after the castle, which lies by its banks. It was built between 1954 and 1961 to dam the Vltava river near Solenice. This dam also claims first place in terms of the size of the dam itself. The Orlík dam is 450 meters long and reaches 91 meters at its highest point. The greatest depth of Orlík is 74 meters. The Orlík Dam has a somewhat dark past behind it, but it is still a very popular tourist destination. Along the shores you can swim, fish and enjoy various water sports. At the same time, in the campsites and hotels where you can stay, there are various entertainment centers that complement the overall atmosphere of Orlík. Apart, of course, from the historically important castle, which is accessible during the tourist season.
Husinec Reservoir
In the district of Prachatice, near the village of Husinec, there is a body of water of the same name. Husinec reservoir it is among the first built in the south of Bohemia, because its construction began already in 1934. This was due to frequent floods that threatened the surrounding villages, especially during the spring thaw. To this day, the reservoir captures the melting snow and at the same time it serves as a small hydroelectric power station and drinking water reservoir for Prachatice. Although the Husinec dam is not large, it offers much more privacy and peace for your swimming and walks.
Hněvkovice Dam
This water reservoir on the Vltava River for a change belongs to the younger waterworks in southern Bohemia. It was only built between 1980 and 2010. The main reason for the creation of the Hněvkovická dam was to create a sufficient source of water for the adjacent Temelín factory. It is used mainly from an energy point of view, but since the water area of the Hněvkovice dam is large enough, tourists and vacationers can also fit here. This means that on the banks of the reservoir you will find all kinds of campsites and cottages that can serve as starting point for your swimming, water sports or even fishing. You can find Hněvkovice approximately 4 kilometers from the town of Týn nad Vltavou.
Římov water reservoir
Even this reservoir was not primarily created for recreational purposes, its main one the purpose was to create a source of drinking water for České Budějovice. Although it is supposed to serve this purpose, the Rímov dam is relatively small. The dam that holds the water is loose stone with a core, which is the reason why the dam has only small retention capabilities and therefore does not limit the Malše river basin in any significant way. On the other hand, there is a small hydroelectric power plant. In addition to walking around it, you can, of course, take a bath here enjoy a quieter vacation spot. The water area near Římovo serves probably most visitors who come here to swim and enjoy water sports.
