Bovan Lake

Directions

Бованско језеро · Bovansko jezero

Bovan Lake is a long, narrow reservoir on the Sokobanjska Moravica, in a gorge near the village of Bovan between Aleksinac and Sokobanja, surrounded by mountains and hills. It is a favourite day out for people from Aleksinac and a short trip from the spa town of Sokobanja.

How it formed

Its dam was built from 1978, part of the regulation of the Morava basin that served the Đerdap hydroelectric system, to hold back the silt of hill and mountain rivers and to store water. Work went on long past its planned finish in 1982.

Nature

The deep eastern part draws wintering waterfowl, among them black-throated and red-throated divers, goosanders and great crested grebes, and shorebirds use the shallow western end on migration; Serbia’s first white-billed diver was recorded here. Short-toed snake eagles and lesser spotted eagles hunt around the lake, which lies within the Sokobanja Basin Important Bird Area. The fish include pike-perch, carp, grass carp, perch and chub, and catfish of 37 kg and more have been landed.

Visit

Getting there

Nearest settlement: Aleksinac

Swimming

No reliable information

Tips

The lake is on the regional road between Aleksinac, Sokobanja and Knjaževac; from the motorway, leave at Ražanj coming from Belgrade or at Aleksinac coming from Niš. It has organised beaches and plenty of places to camp, and it is popular for swimming and fishing.

Motorboats are banned to limit noise and pollution, which suits rowing and sailing, and pedal boats can be rented. A sailing regatta is held in April and September. For birds, winter and the spring and autumn migrations are the best times: explore by car with short walks, and bring a telescope, as there are no hides.