The artificial lake was formed as a result of the construction of the Mratine concrete dam on the Piva River for the needs of the Piva Hydroelectric Power Station in 1975. The length of the newly made lake was 46 kilometers, the deepest place - 220 meters, height above sea level - 675 m. This is the largest reservoir of crystal clear fresh water in Montenegro. There are many fish here, especially trout - a big lover of cold mountain waters.
During the formation of the lake, the city of Old Pluzhins was flooded, and the main attraction of this place - the Piva Monastery - had to be completely transferred to another place in parts. The Mratine Dam is the largest in Europe, its height is 220 meters, the width at the base is 30 meters, and at the highest point it is 4.5 meters.
Due to the size of the lake, it is advisable to inspect it by car. A walk along the lake, admiring its charming beauty, will bring great pleasure. On the way, you can make small stops for video and photography. There is a bridge on the lake. It is low, of the simplest construction, it seems that this is not a bridge at all, but simply the road itself took and jumped over Lake of Piva, releasing strong legs-supports from its body!
There is a fork right behind the bridge. Directly to the Mratina Dam. To the right and up - along the steep serpentine, every 100 meters diving into the dark tunnels - to the Durmitor National Park. Tunnels! Along with the lake itself, these are unique road “masterpieces” that amaze with their wild, unbridled beauty. They are of different lengths - from very short arches, to almost hundred-meter moves, sometimes bending almost 360 degrees. Moreover, they are not finished from the inside, stones that have fallen from somewhere lie on their sidelines, there is no lighting in them, and they are so narrow that the two cars definitely cannot leave. Neither give nor take, such caves dug up by the gnomes of Eribor in search of the treasures of Helm's Padi, and maybe all of Middle-earth .....
There are tiny platforms in front of the torn entry holes to let you pass oncoming cars, it’s very convenient to make photostops on them, marveling at the fabulous beauty of Lake Piva and the picturesque mountains surrounding it!
The panoramic view from here, from a rather great height, can amaze the imagination of almost any person - after all, all this stunning beauty has become a product of the joint creativity of man and the genius of wildlife!