Lakes and dams Vyšná Boca

Vrbické pleso, which adorns the Demänovská dolina, is the largest natural lake in the Nízke Tatry. This body of water at an altitude of 1,113 meters above sea level is of glacial moraine origin and thus resembles tarns in the Vysoké Tatry. At its deepest point, a depth of 8 meters was measured. The lake has been a nature monument since 1975 and is currently protected by the fifth, i.e., highest, level of protection.

The walk starts in the village of Demänovská Dolina at the Jasná - Biela Púť signpost, and it is easy to park nearby. A yellow-marked trail leads from the signpost to the tarn, taking only about 5 minutes to reach it. Around the lake, which measures 115 meters in length and 62 meters in width, runs an undemanding hiking trail. Walking it takes 20 to 60 minutes, depending on your walking pace or how long you sit on the benches and admire the photogenic mountain surroundings. It is an ideal walk for families with children. Information boards inform tourists about the origin of the tarn as well as its fauna. Benches by the lake are a matter of course, and several gazebos stand here as well. A playground has been built here for the youngest tourists.

Vrbické pleso does not have to be your final destination. Interesting hiking trails start right from it. It is possible to climb to the Rozhľadňa na Ostredku or to Krakova hoľu. The yellow trail leads from the tarn to Tri Vody or all the way to Sedlo Poľany, while the blue trail leads tourists to the Demänovská jaskyňa slobody.

Vrbické pleso will certainly not be the only place in this region that you plan to visit. If you are planning a longer holiday in Liptov, our accommodation offer will certainly come in handy. Right in the Demänovská dolina, just a few steps from Vrbické pleso, you will find hotels, budget guesthouses, comfortable apartments, and cozy cottages.

The Vodná nádrž Čierny Váh reservoir was built in the second half of the 20th century on the middle course of the Čierny Váh river. It was constructed for the purpose of pumping water for a power plant. The Čierny Váh power plant itself is not only our highest-located, but also our largest and most powerful hydroelectric power plant. The waterworks consists of an upper reservoir (circular) and a lower reservoir (elongated).

Let us imagine the first of them, the upper water reservoir, which is located in the territory of the Národný park Nízke Tatry. It is built on the Vysoké Sokoly karst plateau, near the village of Kráľova Lehota. Its construction took place in the years 1976–1979. The reservoir is situated at the top of a hill and has a water volume of 3.7 million cubic meters. Water is pumped into it from the lower reservoir, overcoming an elevation gain of more than 400 meters in the process.

The upper reservoir of Čierny Váh is considered one of the most beautiful places in the area, offering you a virtually fairytale view of the entire Horný Liptov region and the panorama of the Tatry mountains. You can reach it via one of the marked cycling routes or hiking trails. The most commonly used routes lead from Východná, through Svarín and Kráľova Lehota. Although an asphalt road leads to it, it is private with a strict prohibition of entry for motor vehicles.

For the public, entry to the upper reservoir site is prohibited. However, (for now) it is mostly tolerated by the power plant. When you set off toward it, a sign immediately catches your eye: "Water level fluctuations. Swimming in the reservoir is prohibited." Those who nevertheless make the trip all the way to the top will walk 1,660 meters during a circuit around the reservoir. The view of the water surface is truly calming. To some, the water on the black asphalt coating resembles pitch. The difference between the minimum and maximum water levels of the reservoir is 26 meters.

An interesting fact is that in order for water to be pumped from the lower to the upper reservoir, more energy is consumed than generated. Bizarre? Perhaps. But no one has come up with a better idea so far.

Approximately 1 kilometer from the water reservoir is the Lesnícky cintorín Čierny Váh forest cemetery. It includes the Kaplnka sv. Trojice chapel and a wooden bell tower. It is a publicly accessible attraction that was established in the territory of Kráľova Lehota in the first half of the 18th century.

If you want to take a trip and see live one of the most beautiful views that Slovakia has to offer, you should definitely visit Čierny Váh. You can book accommodation in the immediate vicinity of the Vodná nádrž Čierny Váh reservoir on the accommodation Kráľova Lehota pages. And once you are in Liptov, it would be a shame not to check out other attractions that this extremely popular region offers as well. Will it be a visit to one of the water parks, ski resorts, open-air museums, or one of the caves? It is entirely up to you, but whichever option you choose, you will certainly not regret it.

The Vodná nádrž Krpáčovo reservoir is part of the recreational area of the same name. It lies in the foothills of Nízke Tatry, on the southern side of Chopok. It extends into the cadastral territory of the villages of Dolná Lehota and Horná Lehota, about 8 km north of Podbrezová.

The reservoir serves summer recreation; you can swim and practice water sports here, but fishing is popular as well. Vacationers appreciate the grassy banks of the reservoir with a gentle entrance into the water, which is ideal for families with children. On the shores of the lake, visitors will find several dining options as well as a rental shop for water sports equipment.

Near the reservoir stands a sculpture of a mother and child. A peculiarity of Krpáčovo is a sinking stream that disappears into the ground in the forest about 5 minutes from the lake. In addition to easy walks around the reservoir, which can also be combined with mushroom picking, hikers can indulge in more advanced hiking. Worth mentioning, for example, is the peak Skalka (1,980 meters above sea level) or the 9-meter-high Vajskovský vodopád waterfall at the end of Vajskovská dolina, which is among the most beautiful valleys in Nízke Tatry. An ascent to Chopok, Dereše, or Ďumbier can also be planned. Cycling routes lead, for instance, to Bystrianska jaskyňa and to the village of Tále.

For those planning a visit in winter, marked cross-country trails are prepared in the vicinity, as well as the Lyžiarske stredisko Krpáčovo ski resort in close proximity to the lake, not to mention a wide range of ski resorts in the surrounding area: for example, Srdiečko and Kosodrevina on Chopok, Tále, Mýto pod Ďumbierom, and many others.

This area certainly deserves your attention for more than a single day; therefore, you will need proper accommodation to see everything worth seeing and have a place to relax after your trips. In the immediate vicinity of the lake, there are numerous chalets and cottages; you will find them in Krpáčovo, Horná Lehota, and Dolná Lehota. If you prefer the comfort of a guesthouse, try your luck in the village of Tále or Mýto pod Ďumbierom.