Kuti, Lake and protected area in Zažablje, Croatia

Kuti is a lake in the Neretva Valley near Zazablje that stretches roughly 2.4 kilometers in length and just under 1 kilometer in width. The water body reaches approximately 4.6 meters at its deepest point and is fed by several springs on the eastern shore that supply it with water.

Kuti was declared a special ornithological reserve by a decree of the Croatian Government on 20 August 2020. The protected area covers the lake itself and the marshland around it, safeguarding nesting waterbirds and species on the Adriatic migration route.

The lake serves as a vital stopover for migratory birds traveling between northern and southern Europe. Birdwatchers come here to observe species that are otherwise difficult to spot in the region.

The lake lies in the Neretva valley in the Zažablje municipality, with the Žaba range to the east and the Adriatic about 2 km to the southwest. Water levels are low in summer, when a temporary islet rises in the middle of the lake and vanishes again as the water returns. The surrounding marshes are the main bird habitat.

During dry summers the water level drops enough that a small island appears in the center of the lake. This seasonal change creates a different landscape view and affects where birds gather.