Jablanica lake, Artificial lake in Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Jablanica lake is an artificial reservoir on the Neretva River located between Sarajevo and Mostar along the M17 highway. The water is surrounded by steep mountain walls and forms a long, narrow bay with several arms.
Jablanica lake was created in 1953 by the construction of an 80-metre arch dam on the Neretva, 5 km upstream from Jablanica. The reservoir flooded the fertile agricultural land of the wide valley below Konjic. It reaches up to 30 km upstream to Konjic and holds water to a maximum depth of 70 to 80 metres.
The area holds hundreds of medieval tombstones called stećci that show ancient burial customs and remain an important part of the region's cultural identity.
The lake is accessible via the M17 highway, and the main facilities are located in the southern section around Ostrožac village. Beaches, boat rentals, restaurants, and accommodations are available in this area.
In 2024 a drought dried the lake out, exposing stretches of the bed that are normally underwater. The reservoir had already suffered from poor management of water and fisheries, with introduced pike-perch wiping out native species such as strugač and glavatica.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,257 contributors worldwide.