Bosnia and Herzegovina (Drina Valley) · Serbia

Zvornik Lake

Directions

Зворничко језеро · Zvorničko jezero

Zvornik Lake is an artificial lake on the Drina river on the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, created after the building of a hydroelectric power station in 1954. Many cottages and tourist facilities stand around it, and it suits summer holidays, sport on the water, fishing, rafting, sailing and swimming. It is known for large wels catfish, and divers who searched part of the lake in 2017 did not find the giant specimens that are said to live in its murky depths.

How it formed

The lake was created by the Zvornik hydroelectric plant, whose dam stands at the narrowest part of the Drina, where the river leaves its canyon. It is the first reservoir on the Drina, running about 25 km upstream, and rivers and streams flowing into it have built islands and peninsulas that shelter fish and wild ducks.

Nature

The lake is known for its big wels catfish. The anglers’ clubs Drinsko jezero of Mali Zvornik and Bistro of Zvornik work together as one association to look after it.

Gallery

3 photos

Photo: Julian Nyča · CC BY 3.0

Photo: MilanK Kralj · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ванилица · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Visit

Getting there

Nearest settlement: Zvornik

Swimming

No reliable information

Tips

Zvornik Lake, on the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, has its shore shared by Zvornik and Mali Zvornik. There are small beaches along the coast and a well-kept city beach on the Zvornik side. The Kayak Canoe Rafting Club “Drina” in Zvornik (Divič) can organise kayak and canoe tours, and motor and traditional boat rides, speedboating and water skiing are on offer. May to September is the season; expect weekend houses, cafés and restaurants rather than big tourist facilities.

On the last weekend of July Mali Zvornik holds the Somovijada, a catfish competition first held in 1998, on a catch-and-release basis, with a regatta, food and music. Private rooms in the lakeside villages fill up during the July events, so book early. For fishing permits, ask the local anglers’ clubs.