Orava Dam

The largest water reservoir in Slovakia is part of the Orava hydropower plant. It was built at the confluence of the White and Black Orava rivers with a volume of 375.2 million m³.

Under the surface of the Orava reservoir, the villages of Slanica, Oravské Hámre, Osada, Lavkovo, and Ústie, as well as part of Bobrov and Námestovo, have disappeared forever. This is why there is no historical center in Námestovo. Above the surface, a small hill remained after the submerged village of Slanica, creating the Slanický Island, also known as the Island of Art and Bird Island, which are connected by a narrow passage when the water level is low. However, only the first one mentioned is accessible to the public. The Bird Island is a significant nesting site for water birds, which is why entry is prohibited. This is also why part of the water surface and selected shores of the reservoir are part of the Protected Landscape Area of Upper Orava.

The main purpose of the hydropower plant is to capture water during floods and improve flow conditions in the Orava and Váh rivers with the captured water.