Zemplínska šírava

Zemplínska šírava is a reservoir in Michalovce District in eastern Slovakia, stretching 11 kilometers in length and up to 3.5 kilometers in width. The maximum depth reaches 14 meters, and the shoreline alternates between shallow beaches, wooded slopes and small bays that invite swimming and relaxation.

The reservoir was built between 1961 and 1965 to provide cooling water for the nearby Vojany Power Station and create a water reserve for the region. After completion, the water body quickly became a popular recreation area for people living in eastern Slovakia.

The name comes from the historic Zemplín region, which once covered much of eastern Slovakia and still shapes local identity today. Communities along the shores use the water for sailing, swimming and fishing, while the surrounding forests and meadows offer space for walks and cycling.

Access to the shoreline areas is available through several towns, with marked parking lots and paths leading to the swimming spots. Water quality is monitored regularly, and on sunny summer days the popular beach sections can become quite busy.

Water from the reservoir flows into the Laborec River, which later merges with the Bodrog and becomes part of a larger river system reaching as far as the Tisza in Hungary. This hydrological connection plays an important role for ecosystems along the river courses in the region.