Voronezh Reservoir

The Voronezh Reservoir is a protected water body in Voronezh Oblast that stretches across a wide area and divides the city of Voronezh into two halves. Three bridges connect both sides of the city, and along the shores you find beaches, piers and green spaces.

The reservoir was created in 1972 by building a dam on the Voronezh River to provide water for agriculture and households. The project permanently changed the landscape and formed a new body of water that still shapes the city today.

Locals often call the body of water simply "the sea" because of its size, and families use the shores for weekend walks and picnics. On summer days you see people grilling or fishing while athletes train on the water.

Three beaches along the shores offer access to the water, and several piers make it easier to board or leave boats. The paths around the water work well for walking or cycling, but in winter ice and snow make them harder to pass.

The body of water noticeably influences the local climate and brings cooler summers and milder winters nearby. From late November to early April an ice layer forms that can become thick enough to walk on.