The Piva Lake reservoir holds approximately 800 million cubic meters of water.
The Mratinje Dam was constructed between 1971 and 1975 to facilitate the hydroelectric power plant.
The historic Piva Monastery was meticulously dismantled and relocated stone-by-stone to a new site between 1969 and 1982 to escape submersion by the rising lake waters.
The Tara and Piva rivers merge at Šćepan Polje to form the Drina River.
The park contains the Stabanjsko Jezero, a glacial lake situated at an altitude of over 1,300 meters.
The Piva canyon is technically a submerged canyon, as significant portions were flooded during the creation of the reservoir.
Piva Nature Preserve is a protected area located in the Plužine municipality of northwestern Montenegro, bordering Bosnia and Herzegovina. The park is defined by the deep Piva River canyon, which reaches depths of over 1,200 meters. The centerpiece of the preserve is the man-made Piva Lake, created by the 220-meter-high Mratinje Dam, one of the highest arch dams in Europe. The landscape features diverse limestone karst formations, including high plateaus and glacial lakes like Stabanjsko and Crkvičko. The preserve serves as a habitat for diverse flora and fauna, including brown bears, wolves, and chamois. The area is intersected by the Piva River, which is known for its emerald-green waters. Visitors engage in water sports, hiking, and cycling throughout the varied terrain.
The viewing platform overlooking the Mratinje Dam and the sharp bends of the Piva River canyon.
Bring a polarizing filter for your camera to better capture the water color against the limestone canyon walls.
Check road conditions in advance, as high-altitude mountain passes leading to the preserve can be narrow and steep.
Water activities require advance booking with local adventure outfitters based in Plužine.
Attempting to navigate minor mountain forest roads without a 4WD vehicle or adequate local navigation advice.
The park is accessible year-round, though high-altitude mountain passes may be closed by snow from late autumn through mid-spring.
Practice leave-no-trace principles; respect local signage regarding protected wildlife zones.
