Zvornik Lake, Reservoir on the Drina at the Bosnia and Herzegovina–Serbia border

Zvornik Lake is an artificial reservoir on the Drina River, sitting on the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia near the towns of Zvornik and Mali Zvornik. A concrete dam holds back the water, and the lake runs for a considerable length with varying widths along both shorelines.

The Zvornik hydroelectric dam, 45 metres high, was built in 1948 and its reservoir filled in 1955, making Zvornik Lake the first artificial reservoir on the Drina. Since then, erosion from tributaries such as the Drinjača, Jošanica, Velika reka and Boranjska reka has silted up about half of the basin, creating islands and peninsulas.

The lake is named after Zvornik, the Bosnian town on its bank, while the opposite shore belongs to Mali Zvornik in Serbia. Its banks are lined with weekend cottages and hospitality facilities, and the water is used for fishing, swimming, boating and rafting. The reservoir and the Drina together hold trout, grayling, chub, barbel, catfish and pike, as well as wild mallards.

The lake sits on an international border, so it is worth checking whether a travel document is needed for crossing between the two sides. Accommodation and restaurants are found along both shores within easy reach of the towns, and the banks are accessible on foot or by bike.

The Drina's old course forms the border between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, so the lake lies in both countries. Since the reservoir filled in 1955, about half of its basin has been silted up by sediment from the Drinjača, Jošanica, Velika reka and Boranjska reka, creating islands and peninsulas.