Švihov Reservoir, Major water reservoir in Zruč nad Sázavou, Czech Republic.
The Švihov Reservoir sits in central Bohemia and supplies Praha with drinking water through an underground tunnel system. The water surface extends across several valleys and reaches more than 50 meters at its deepest point.
Construction began in the 1960s and led to the relocation of thousands of residents from several villages. The facility was created to meet the growing water needs of the capital.
The visitor center in Hulice shows how drinking water is treated for millions of people. Visitors can use interactive stations that explain the journey of water from the reservoir to households.
Visitors can walk along the shore roads and view the water from several lookout points. Access to the water itself is restricted to protect its quality.
Beneath the water lie the ruins of two villages whose church spires sometimes become visible during low water levels. The tunnel system transports millions of liters of water daily over dozens of kilometers to the capital.
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