Above the Piva Canyon stretches a 45-kilometre ribbon of emerald water held back by one of the tallest dams in Europe. Piva Lake is both an extraordinary feat of engineering and one of Montenegro's most beautiful — and most peaceful — landscapes.
Piva Lake (Pivsko jezero) is an artificial reservoir created when the Piva River was dammed in the 1970s. It is the largest lake lying entirely within Montenegro, winding for about 45 km through the mountains with steep limestone walls dropping straight into the water.
The lake exists because of the Mratinje Dam, a concrete double-curvature arch dam standing 220 metres tall — among the tallest dams in Europe. Construction ran from 1971 to 1975, and its hydroelectric power station generates electricity for Montenegro to this day. Driving across the crest of the dam, with the canyon falling away below, is a highlight in itself.
One of the most remarkable stories of the dam project concerns the Piva Monastery (Manastir Piva). Founded in the 16th century, it stood where the reservoir would flood. Rather than lose it, engineers and conservators dismantled the entire monastery and rebuilt it on higher ground at the village of Goransko, a few kilometres away — a painstaking effort that ran from 1969 to 1982 and included carefully preserving and re-installing more than a thousand fresco fragments. It remains one of the most important Orthodox monasteries in the region and a fascinating cultural stop near the lake.
The road along the lake and down into the Piva Canyon towards Šćepan Polje is an attraction in its own right. It threads through more than 50 short tunnels blasted directly into the cliffs, crosses the dam, and serves up one cinematic view after another. It's frequently named one of the most spectacular drives in the Balkans — bring your camera and take your time.
For more, see things to do near Piva Canyon.
The small town of Plužine sits on the lake shore, rebuilt on higher ground after the original town was submerged. Today it's the natural base for exploring the Piva region and a gateway to Durmitor National Park and the Tara Canyon.
Want to see the lake and canyon from the rock itself? book your Via Ferrata Piva adventure and combine your climb with a day on the emerald water.
Join a guided Via Ferrata Piva adventure in Montenegro's spectacular Piva Canyon. All safety equipment and an expert local guide are included.
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