Grlište Lake, Reservoir in Zaječar, Serbia

Grlište Lake is an artificial reservoir in the valley between the villages of Grlište and Leskovac, formed in 1989 by damming the Grliška river 4.5 km upstream of its confluence with the Beli Timok. It covers about 110 hectares, holds 12,000,000 m³ and reaches a maximum depth of 20 metres. Its clear water is stocked with fish, and no boating is allowed.

The lake was established in 1989 when a dam was built across the Grliška river, primarily to supply drinking water to Zaječar. This engineering project used the natural geography of the region and represented a key infrastructure development for the city's water supply needs.

The lake takes its name from the village of Grlište, in whose valley it lies. Fishing is the main activity: the reservoir is stocked with bleak, carp, pumpkinseed, crucian carp, Prussian carp, rudd, chub and other species. Near the village, in a coniferous forest planted by hieromonk Jermonenko in the 1920s, stands the Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul.

The lake lies in the valley between the villages of Grlište and Leskovac, about 4.5 km upstream from where the Grliška river meets the Beli Timok. It is a drinking-water reservoir for Zaječar, so there are no tourist facilities and boat use is forbidden; fishing is possible. The water is clear and the lake was stocked with fish.

The reservoir was stocked with fish and is suitable for angling: species recorded include nase, carp, grass carp, crucian carp, Prussian carp, chub and others. Eutrophication of its water was confirmed in 1990, the year after the dam was built.