About Slezska Harta Dam

Slezská Harta is the largest reservoir in Moravian Silesia and one of the youngest major dams in the Czech Republic, completed in 1997 on the Moravice River. The rockfill dam stands 65 metres tall and holds 209 million cubic metres, serving primarily as a water supply reservoir for the Opava and Ostrava agglomerations as well as providing flood protection for the Opava valley downstream. The reservoir fills a broad valley in the Jeseník foothills, surrounded by the forested ridges of the Hrubý Jeseník mountains. Its construction required the relocation of seven villages and more than 2,000 inhabitants — one of the largest resettlements in Czech post-war history. The former village sites are visible during low-water periods, a haunting reminder of the communities that once thrived in this valley. Since completion, the reservoir has developed into a regional leisure destination, with sailing, windsurfing, and cycling paths along its shoreline.