Údolní nádrž Skalka, lake in Cheb, Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic
Údolní nádrž Skalka is a reservoir on the Ohře west of Cheb, impounded by a 14.6 m high, 114 m long straight rockfill dam with a concrete sealing face. Its lake covers 338.5 ha, holds 19.555 million m³ and reaches 9.2 km upstream to Pomezná near the German border.
Built between 1962 and 1964 on the Ohře, the dam was designed to supply water to industry and power stations downstream and to protect Cheb from floods. From 1969 the Horka reservoir took over drinking-water supply, after which Skalka served as utility water for industry around Cheb and was opened for recreation.
The site is accessible via hiking trails and offers various spots for relaxation and water activities. Visitors should know that algae blooms occasionally appear in warm months, which may affect swimming.
The reservoir's dam stands at the southern foot of Spitalsky vrch and is 14.6 m high, with a 114 m long and 4 m wide crest. Since 2001 two small hydropower plants operate here: MVE Skalka with two horizontal Kaplan turbines of 370 kW each, and a micro-source with an 18 kW Sigmaturbine.
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