Iovsk Reservoir, reservoir in Russia

Iovsk Reservoir lies on the Iova (Kovda) River in Karelia and Murmansk Oblast, covering 294 km², 58 km long and up to 10 km wide, with a mean depth of 7 m and a volume of 2.06 km³. Filled in 1960–1961 behind a dam on the Iova, it joins the lake sections Sushozero, Rugozero, Sokolozero and Tumchaozero with river stretches. Its level varies by about 2 m.

The reservoir was created in the early 1960s when a dam was built on the Iova River to store water for local communities and industry. This construction project reshaped the landscape and became central to the region's water management and energy supply from the start.

The reservoir shapes daily life for local residents, who have fished its waters and gathered along its shores for generations. Fishing remains central to how people spend their time here, especially during the summer months when activity on the water picks up.

The reservoir lies on the Iova (Kovda) River, mostly in Karelia with a smaller part in Murmansk Oblast, and is reached by small roads. Water level varies by about 2 m, so shoreline landing spots shift through the season. Fishing yields vendace, grayling, pike, whitefish, trout, smelt and perch.

The water freezes over during winter months, creating a smooth icy surface where local people walk and skate. This seasonal transformation gives the reservoir a completely different character and opens it to different activities compared to the ice-free season.