Vodná nádrž Turček
The Vodná nádrž Turček reservoir lies above the village of Turček, in the Turčianske Teplice district. It is situated at the confluence of two rivers Ružová and Turiec. It was built for the purpose of collecting raw drinking water, which is conveyed to a treatment plant in Turček and subsequently supplies the districts of Žiar nad Hronom, Prievidza, and Handlová. At the same time, the dam protects the upper course of the Turiec from floods, and electricity is also generated here. Small hydroelectric power plants were established at several drops and flows.
The total area of the dam is 54 ha, with water flowing into it from a catchment area of 29.5 km², which features up to 95% water yield and high-quality drinking water. The rock-fill dam with an asphalt-concrete seal has a height of 59 m and a crest length of 287 m. With these dimensions, the reservoir can hold almost 11 million m³ of water, while securing water supply abstraction at a rate of 500 l/s.
Turček ranks among the youngest water reservoirs in Slovakia. The construction project was approved in 1989, the building permit was issued in 1992, and the construction itself began in 1993. Work finished in the spring of 1996, and the reservoir was put into operation on May 15, 1996. Due to the construction, six houses were evacuated, and replacement apartments were built in the village for these citizens during the building of the project. At the same time, it was necessary to reconstruct forest roads and a railway underpass.
Swimming in the reservoir and ice skating on the frozen surface are prohibited. Despite the fact that fish thrive here, fishing is not permitted either. Mainly trout are stocked here, which also serve as an indicator of water quality. An interesting fact is that bears living in the area around the dam come to refresh themselves at the reservoir.
The cycling route around the reservoir is popular. It is an asphalt-gravel trail with a length of about 10.5 km. The cycling route starts in the village of Turček, at the intersection with the Turčianska cyklomagistrála cycling artery. Following this path, you will get past the village and then ascend along a green-marked forest gravel road all the way to a lookout point. This provides a view not only of the dam, but also of the Kremnické vrchy. From the viewpoint, forest paths lead around the entire body of water until you return back to the village. Since you cannot go swimming in Turček, we will redirect you to the Aquapark Turčianske Teplice. And you do not have to limit yourself to bathing; you can also explore history at Kremnický hrad. Or you can head out to discover natural beauties in Harmanecká jaskyňa.
Start searching for accommodation near Vodná nádrž Turček in Kremnica (located about 11 km away), for example. The selection there is the most diverse. If you prefer a countryside setting, the villages of Králiky, Tajov, or Horná Štubňa might interest you.
