Gazivoda, Gazivode in Serbian and Ujmani in Albanian, is a long, narrow reservoir on the Ibar near Zubin Potok, in northern Kosovo, below Mokra Gora. It is the largest lake in Kosovo.
How it formed
The reservoir was planned in the 1960s for the energy needs of what was then the province, and it was built between 1973 and 1978, behind a tall rock-fill dam with a hydroelectric plant at its foot.
History
Residents of the valley had to move when it was filled. Near Zubin Potok, at Brnjak, stood a Roman necropolis and the medieval court of Helen of Anjou, Queen of Serbia, who founded a school for poor girls there. Tombstones, Serbian Orthodox churches and 19th-century houses have been found under the water. Ownership of the lake is disputed between Belgrade and Pristina.
Gallery
Photo: Julian Nyča · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Андрей Романенко · CC BY-SA 4.0
Visit
Swimming
No reliable information
Tips
Swimming, boating, kayaking, windsurfing, fishing and picnics are all popular here, and local restaurants are known for home-made perch. Late spring to early autumn is the pleasant season, and beaches and facilities are busiest in July and August. Parts of the shoreline are private or have few services, so check locally for public access and parking before you head down smaller roads.
A fishing ban was announced on the Ibar in 2020, so ask about current rules and permits. Above the lake rises Mokra Gora, with the Crna Reka and Rogozna monasteries at its foot. Check current access and checkpoint conditions before you travel.
Nearby lakes
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Sources & data
- English Wikipedia: Gazivoda Lake (revision 1379550694), Wikimedia Foundation, 2026
- Feasibility Study for Protection of Iber Lepenc Canal: ESIAF with ESMF (2016), World Bank (public disclosure SFG1823 REV, project P133829), 2016
- Wikidata: Gazivoda Lake (Q1479905), Wikimedia Foundation
- Gazivoda lake, Kosovo Vacations
- Gazivode, a Lake of cooperation or conflict, Kosovo Online
- Why is Lake Gazivoda important for Serbia and Kosovo, Environment SEE
- Da li su srpske vikendice na Gazivodama nezakonito podignute, Vreme
- Wikipedia: Gazivoda Lake, Wikimedia Foundation
- Wikipedia: Gazivoda Dam, Wikimedia Foundation