About Zermanice Dam

Žermanice Reservoir on the Lučina River in the Silesian Beskids foothills is the primary water supply reservoir for the industrial city of Ostrava and surrounding municipalities. The earthfill dam was completed in 1957 and stands 32 metres tall, holding 25 million cubic metres. Located in the southeastern corner of the Czech Republic near the Slovak and Polish borders, the reservoir draws water from the Beskids mountains, where the Lučina and its tributaries collect rainfall from forested catchments. The reservoir's importance is amplified by the scale of the Ostrava agglomeration — one of the largest urban-industrial concentrations in Central Europe — which demands a reliable and high-capacity water supply for its population and heavy industries. The reservoir is supplemented by water transfers from the larger Šance Reservoir on the Ostravice River during dry periods. The surrounding Beskydy Protected Landscape Area offers recreational opportunities within easy reach of the industrial city.