Lake Piva, lake in Montenegro
Lake Piva is a large reservoir in Montenegro's mountains, created in 1975 when the Mratinje Dam was built across the Piva River. Clear turquoise water is surrounded by steep cliffs that rise sharply from the lake, and the surrounding terrain features dense forests and rocky slopes typical of the region.
The lake was created in 1975 when the Mratinje Dam flooded the Piva River valley, submerging the original town of Plužine. The Piva Monastery, a 16th-century structure, was carefully dismantled and rebuilt at a higher location to save it from being submerged beneath the water.
The name comes from the Piva River that shaped this valley for centuries. Local communities have always relied on this water source, and today visitors can see how the relocated monastery still serves as a spiritual landmark for the region.
Reaching the lake is best done by car, as the road winds through mountain passes and tunnels. The nearest major airport is around 50 miles away, and driving from Podgorica takes about two hours.
Beneath the water surface lie the remains of the old town of Plužine, including homes and churches that could not be saved before the 1975 flooding. Some diving tours occasionally explore these submerged structures when water levels permit.
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