Lake Dubrava
Encyclopedia
Lake Dubrava is a reservoir
on the Drava
in northern Croatia
. It is administratively divided between Međimurje County and Varaždin County
, and is bordered by the municipalities of Prelog, Sveti Đurđ and Veliki Bukovec
. The Drava flows into the reservoir near the town of Prelog, while the dam
is located near the village of Sveta Marija.
It is the largest of three reservoirs built on the Drava in Croatia, the other two being Lake Ormož (which is located on the border with Slovenia
) and Lake Varaždin
. Together, the three reservoirs form the Hydro North group of reservoirs and hydro
power plants run by the HEP Group
. Lake Dubrava serves the Dubrava Hydro Power Plant
, which was built in 1989.
With an area of 17.1 km², it is the second largest lake overall in Croatia, and also the country's largest artificial lake.
The town of Prelog is the only settlement on the shores of the lake, with other nearby villages including Otok
, Oporovec
, Donji Mihaljevec
and Sveta Marija in Međimurje County, as well as Hrženica
and Struga in Varaždin County. Lake Dubrava takes its name from the village of Donja Dubrava, which is located next to the place where the lake's outflow canal
meets the natural flow of the Drava, around 6 kilometres from the dam.
. Near the town of Prelog, there is also a small marina
on the lake, with a number of log cabin
s and a small airfield for powered hang glider
s on the shores of the Drava nearby.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
on the Drava
Drava
Drava or Drave is a river in southern Central Europe, a tributary of the Danube. It sources in Toblach/Dobbiaco, Italy, and flows east through East Tirol and Carinthia in Austria, into Slovenia , and then southeast, passing through Croatia and forming most of the border between Croatia and...
in northern Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. It is administratively divided between Međimurje County and Varaždin County
Varaždin County
Varaždin County is a county in northern Croatia. It is named after its county seat, the city of Varaždin.-Geography:In addition to the city of Varaždin, the county includes the towns of Ivanec, Ludbreg, Lepoglava, Novi Marof and Varaždinske Toplice, as well as 22 municipalities...
, and is bordered by the municipalities of Prelog, Sveti Đurđ and Veliki Bukovec
Veliki Bukovec
Veliki Bukovec is a village and municipality in Croatia in the Varaždin county. According to the 2001 census, there are 1,578 inhabitants, the overwhelming majority of which are Croats.- References :...
. The Drava flows into the reservoir near the town of Prelog, while the dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
is located near the village of Sveta Marija.
It is the largest of three reservoirs built on the Drava in Croatia, the other two being Lake Ormož (which is located on the border with Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
) and Lake Varaždin
Lake Varaždin
Lake Varaždin is a reservoir on the Drava in northern Croatia. It is administratively divided between Međimurje County and Varaždin County, bordered by the municipalities of Varaždin, Trnovec Bartolovečki and Čakovec...
. Together, the three reservoirs form the Hydro North group of reservoirs and hydro
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
power plants run by the HEP Group
Hrvatska elektroprivreda
Hrvatska elektroprivreda is a national power company in Croatia which has been engaged in electricity production, transmission and distribution for more than one century, and with heat supply and gas distribution for the past few decades...
. Lake Dubrava serves the Dubrava Hydro Power Plant
Dubrava Hydroelectric Power Plant
Dubrava Hydro Power Plant is a large power plant in Croatia that has four turbines with a nominal capacity of 21 MW each having a total capacity of 84 MW....
, which was built in 1989.
With an area of 17.1 km², it is the second largest lake overall in Croatia, and also the country's largest artificial lake.
The town of Prelog is the only settlement on the shores of the lake, with other nearby villages including Otok
Otok, Međimurje County
Otok is a village in Međimurje County, Croatia.The village is located around 2 kilometres east of the town of Prelog, and is administratively part of its wider area . The Drava flows into Lake Dubrava just outside the village. In the 2001 census, the village had a population of 339.In a 1226...
, Oporovec
Oporovec
Oporovec is a village in Međimurje County, Croatia.The village is located in the southern part of the county, just over 20 kilometres from the county seat, Čakovec. Close to the village is Lake Dubrava, a reservoir on the Drava. Oporovec is administratively part of the Prelog municipality and is...
, Donji Mihaljevec
Donji Mihaljevec
Donji Mihaljevec is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D20 highway....
and Sveta Marija in Međimurje County, as well as Hrženica
Hrženica
Hrženica is a village in Varaždin County, Croatia.The village is part of the Sveti Đurđ municipality and had a population of 948 in the 2001 census. It is located in the north-eastern part of Varaždin County, near the Drava and Lake Dubrava....
and Struga in Varaždin County. Lake Dubrava takes its name from the village of Donja Dubrava, which is located next to the place where the lake's outflow canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
meets the natural flow of the Drava, around 6 kilometres from the dam.
Tourism
Lake Dubrava is a popular destination for anglersAngling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
. Near the town of Prelog, there is also a small marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
on the lake, with a number of log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
s and a small airfield for powered hang glider
Powered Hang Glider
A foot-launched powered hang glider , also called powered harness, nanolight, or hangmotor, is a powered hang glider harness with a motor and propeller in pusher configuration...
s on the shores of the Drava nearby.