Kaunas Reservoir

Kaunas Reservoir (Kauno marios) is Lithuania’s largest artificial lake, formed by damming the Nemunas River to supply the Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant. The reservoir dominates the local landscape and is an important piece of mid-20th-century infrastructure.

The waterbody covers roughly 63 square kilometres and stretches about 25 to 30 kilometres along the river, with numerous inlets and shallow bays used for boating and angling. The shoreline supports recreational facilities, small marinas and seasonal beaches.

Creation of the reservoir flooded lowland areas and altered local settlement and land use in Kaunas County when the dam and power plant were built in the mid-20th century. The dam at Kaunas remains the principal control structure and energy facility associated with the lake.

The reservoir lies adjacent to the city of Kaunas on the Nemunas River, within Kaunas County; much of its shoreline is reached by local roads and serves as a recreational fringe to the urban area.

• Size: Covers roughly 63 square kilometres and extends for around 25 to 30 kilometres along the Nemunas River, making it the largest artificial lake in Lithuania.
• Uses: Used for hydroelectric generation and wide-ranging recreational activities including boating and fishing; shorelines include beaches and small harbours around Kaunas County.

What to See #

• Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant and dam: The hydropower dam and power station control the reservoir and are the infrastructure that formed the lake; the dam is located at the Kaunas site on the Nemunas River and is the primary engineering feature.