Orlík reservoir drops to its lowest water level in history

Over the weekend, the water level at the Orlík reservoir in southern Bohemia fell to 334.54 metres above sea level — the lowest reading recorded since the dam began operating. Water levels have only been lower once before, during the reservoir’s initial filling, according to Povodí Vltavy, the company that manages the waterway.

The drop is being blamed on a prolonged drought and an unusually low inflow of water into the river. As a result, landscapes that locals and tourists know well have become almost unrecognisable.

What the receding river has revealed

Near the Podolsko bridge, an entire island has emerged that was previously invisible beneath the surface. Around Zvíkov, deep river valleys with sheer rock walls — long hidden underwater — have been exposed. Meanwhile, an old spillway gate, submerged for decades and dating back to infrastructure built before the modern reservoir existed, has resurfaced.

To halt the further decline in water levels, Povodí Vltavy has already significantly reduced outflow from Orlík. The move is intended to help stabilise the situation for as long as the dry conditions persist.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz