Croatia · Kvarner

Lake Lokve

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Lokvarsko jezero

Lake Lokve (Lokvarsko jezero) is an artificial lake in Gorski Kotar, made between 1952 and 1955 by damming the Lokvarka river. The dam was built by volunteer youth work brigades, and the lake first bore the name Youth Lake. It flooded a valley with the settlement of Srednji Jarak, sawmills and a stretch of the old Lujzijana road. Coniferous forests surround it, and the mountains of Risnjak National Park begin just to the north.

How it formed

The lake was made between 1952 and 1955 by an earth dam across the Lokvarka. It is part of the Vinodol hydroelectric system: its water is pumped on at Križ and sent through a tunnel to the Ličanka and Bajer at Fužine. The reservoir reaches the foot of Risnjak, and coniferous forest closes round it on every side.

History

The dam was built by youth work brigades, and the lake was first called Omladinsko jezero, the Youth Lake. The records speak of tens of thousands of volunteers, but those who were there remembered the work as unpaid rather than always voluntary, and prisoners, including prisoners of war, were made to work on it too; several young people died. The water drowned the hamlet of Srednji Jarak, three sawmills and several kilometres of the historic Lujzijana road.

Nature

Lokve is known for its chub, carp, crucian carp and trout, and the lake has given some of the biggest trout ever caught, among them a river trout landed in 1973 that is counted as a world record. It hosted the first world championship in underwater orienteering, and many international rowing regattas have been held on it.

Gallery

3 photos

Photo: Sl-Ziga · Public domain

Photo: Szeder László · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Visit

Getting there

Nearest settlement: Lokve

Swimming

No reliable information

Boating

Allowed

Tips

Lokve is a summer swimming lake and a fishing water all year, and kayaks and canoes are a good way to explore its bays. Marked trails start at the shore: Gorski raj (Mountain Paradise), the panoramic trail, the lookout trail and the tourist trail, and the Golubinjak forest park is nearby, as is the Lokvarka cave. Since 1978 the lake has drawn walkers and cyclists for mass rides and walks around its shore.

Spring and autumn are lovely for walking in the forests round the lake, and summer suits combining a ride with a swim.