About Lipno Dam

Lipno is Czech Republic's second-largest reservoir by volume and the largest by surface area, covering approximately 48.7 square kilometres in the South Bohemian Region near the Austrian border. Completed in 1959 on the Vltava River close to its source in the Šumava Mountains, the concrete gravity dam is 25 metres tall and holds 306 million cubic metres. The reservoir's shallow character and vast surface make it exceptionally warm in summer, earning it the nickname 'the South Bohemian Sea.' The area is a premier leisure destination with extensive facilities for swimming, sailing, windsurfing, and cycling along the adjacent Greenways trail. The Šumava National Park borders the reservoir's southern shore, blending water recreation with pristine forest wilderness. Lipno's hydroelectric plant contributes to the regional energy supply, while the reservoir also helps regulate seasonal flooding along the lower Vltava.