Markaz Reservoir, A water reservoir in Hungary.
Markaz Reservoir is a 154-hectare lake at the southern foot of the Mátra, fed by the Malom, Zsidó and Hatra streams and drained by the Nyiget. It lies in a triangle of raised earth ramparts that once surrounded the 14th-century village of Markaz. Its deepest point reaches 14–15 metres, and it stretches about 1.9 km north to south and 1.6 km east to west.
Markaz Reservoir began in 1962 as a fishpond dug by the local collective farm inside the earth ramparts that once enclosed the 14th-century village of Markaz. In 1968 the neighbouring pond of the Mátra Power Plant was filled, and the two waters merged into a single reservoir. It serves as the plant's cooling pond and is fed by the dammed waters of the Malom, Zsidó and Hatra streams, drained by the Nyiget stream.
The reservoir is fed by the dammed waters of the Malom, Zsidó and Hatra streams, and the Nyiget stream carries its water away. It is a cooling pond for the Mátrai Erőmű power plant and is popular with sailors, windsurfers and anglers.
Access to the reservoir is straightforward, with wide paths along the banks for walking and sitting by the water. Plan for clear weather and wear comfortable shoes if you intend to walk longer distances or spend time fishing.
The water changes noticeably through the seasons, with spring flowers along the banks, colorful autumn trees, and sometimes a thin layer of ice in winter. These natural shifts mean each visit offers a different experience, inviting you to observe how the landscape transforms.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,657 contributors worldwide.