Orava Dam

The Orava Dam is not called the "Orava Sea" for nothing. The reservoir, with an area of about 35 km², was created at the meeting point of the Biela and Čierna Orava rivers. Construction began in 1941, the first turbine started spinning in May 1953, and it was completed in 1954. The villages of Slanica, Osada, Hámre, Ľavkovo and Ústie remained below the surface, as well as a large part of the original Námestovo.

What will you see?

There are several recreational areas on the banks, such as Slanická osada, Prístav, the embankment in Námestovo or Tri studničky. In the summer you can swim, sail, surf, fish and ride pedal boats. A cruise ship runs from Slanická osada to Slanická ostrov umenia. In the evening it is worth taking a walk along the embankment in Námestovo, from where there are beautiful sunsets over the water with the backdrop of Oravská Magura and Babe horá. It is quiet here off season and swans and other waterfowl can be observed on the surface.

Good to know

• The embankment and shores are freely accessible. You only pay for services such as cruises, rentals, or parking at recreation centers.
• Swimming is safer on marked beaches in recreational areas.
• Enter the frozen surface in winter only when the ice is thick enough, and at your own risk.
• The trip can be combined with a visit to the Slanice Island of Art or Edy's Ranch, which is right by the water.

Photo: Radovan Škultéty (CC BY-SA 4.0), Train 01 (CC BY-SA 4.0), juja1811 (CC BY-SA 3.0), ANDREJ NEUHERZ (CC BY-SA 3.0), Marek.jenej at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) – Wikimedia Commons