Lake Krušćica, lake in Croatia
Lake Krušćica is a man-made reservoir created in 1971 when a dam was constructed on the Lika River near the village of Mlakva in the Kosinje region. The lake extends approximately 7 kilometers and reaches depths of about 30 meters at its deepest points, bordered by forested shores.
The lake was created in 1971 with the construction of an 80-meter-high dam on the Lika River to supply water for the nearby hydroelectric plant in Senj. The village of Krušćica was flooded during this process and submerged beneath the water, marking a significant change in the region's landscape.
The village of Krušćica, which gave the lake its name, was flooded when the dam was built and its residents relocated to nearby areas. The story of the submerged settlement remains part of local memory and shapes how people connect with this landscape today.
You can reach the lake on foot from Kosinje through the village of Mlakva or from Vaganac, and experienced boaters can navigate the Lika River canyon to reach it by water. The best time to visit is during dry summer months when the water level drops and the remains of the submerged village become visible.
When water levels drop in summer, the foundations of a church, old houses, and roads of the submerged village Krušćica become visible, offering a rare glimpse into the past. These remains surface regularly during dry months when the lake is partially drained for maintenance every ten years.
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