Tajchy - Water Reservoirs

Water Reservoirs

Until the mid-19th century, the three highest dams in Europe built for the mining industry had been tajchy in Slovakia: Rozgrund (30.2 m), Počúvadlo (29.6 m), and Veľká Richňava (23.4 m). In the same period, 7 out of 13 European mining water reservoirs with the biggest volume of water were tajchy. After several centuries, tajchy became an integral part of their natural environment. Several of the dams have been recently reconstructed. Some of the reservoirs are heavily frequented by tourists, while other, usually smaller lakes lie hidden in the forests of the Štiavnica Mountains.

The largest lake is Počúvadeľské jazero (or Počúvadlo) with an area of 12.13 hectares and a depth of 11 m. The volume is 745,000 m3. The main dam is 195 m long and 19 m thick. Tourist infrastructure makes Počúvadlo the most popular of all tajchy.

Veľká Richňavská nádrž (or Veľká Richňava) has a dam 569 m long, 23.4 m high, and 23 m thick. This tajch is characterized by the largest depth (21 m) and volume (960,000 m3). It supplies Štiavnické Bane with water and also serves for recreation.

Rozgrund was the highest earthy dam in Czechoslovakia until the second half of the 20th century. The reservoir supplies the town of Banská Štiavnica with drinkable water.