Lake Mucharskie

Lake Mucharskie is a reservoir on the Skawa, located in the municipalities of Mucharz, Stryszów and Zembrzyce. Until 2018 it was called the Świnna Poręba Reservoir, and the present name was given in December 2018.

Size and dam

At normal water level the reservoir covers about 820 hectares, and at the maximum up to 1,035 hectares, that is over 10 km². Its total capacity is 161 million cubic metres. The dam is 50 metres high and 640 metres long, lies at kilometre 26.6 of the course of the Skawa, and the river's catchment up to the dam covers 802 km².

Why it was built

The main task of the reservoir is flood protection of the Skawa valley below the dam, including Wadowice, and of the Vistula valley, including Kraków. It also serves to ease the effects of drought, to generate energy (a hydroelectric plant with a capacity of 4 MW), for water supply and for the development of tourism and recreation.

Construction timeline

Plans appeared in the 1950s, and construction began in 1986. The dam was officially handed over on 10 October 2015, the power plant was started on 2 March 2019, and filling of the reservoir began in spring 2020.

What is nearby

About 1.3 km from Mucharz is the Mucharz Quarry, and from the reservoir it is about 8 km to Sucha Beskidzka, where the castle stands.

Practical information

• Location: the vicinity of Mucharz, Wadowice County.
• Beaches and sailing facilities are not described here. Check with the municipalities of Mucharz, Stryszów and Zembrzyce where you can reach the water and what is available.