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Cruise on Piva Lake - from Mratinje to Plužine, an unforgettable trip

If you head from Foča to Montenegro, at about 15 kilometers after the border crossing Šćepan polje and one of the many tunnels that were hard to break through the rocks, on the right side you will see a modest arrow-shaped sign, which says Mratinje... That arrow directs you through a tunnel that looks unfinished. You may be worried for a moment that you have strayed, but you will not regret it because soon to your left there is a view of the Mratinja dam that conquered even the Piva river that deepened its canyon for centuries. Its depth is over 1000 meters. Behind the dam there is an elongated, winding lake of magical greenish-blue color, bordered by steep mountain massifs of Volujak, Bioče, Maglić and Piva mountain... After 4-5 kilometers, you come to the village of Mratinje. A sleepy and quiet place with only a few inhabitants, but it is noticeable that there are many more residential buildings than locals...
The reason for that is the construction of the hydroelectric power plant and the dam "Mratinje", which was completed in 1975. Total number of people that were engaged is over 7,000. Before the start of construction, first it was necessary to perform impressive preparatory works in the form of breaking the road through inaccessible areas, as well as relocating the town of Plužine and the Piva Monastery from the 16th century, which would be submerged by the lake.
The relocation of the Piva Monastery lasted for 13 years, stone by stone, each marked with letters and numbers and rebuilt in its place, 3.5 km away from the original location. A special feat was the removal of frescoes from the walls and the dome, which were glued to the canvases and thus transferred by top experts, and under the supervision of UNESCO.
The "Mratinje" dam was a symbol of the economic power of the former Yugoslavia. The construction costs would be around one billion euros nowadays, and about 900,000 cubic meters of concrete and about 30,000 tons of steel were installed in the dam. It is 220 meters high, one of the highest in Europe, the largest arch dam in the former Yugoslavia and one of the largest of its kind in the world. Base of the dam is 30 meters wide and 36 meters thick. At the top it is 268 meters wide and 4.5 meters thick. It should be emphasized that the foundations of the dam are actually 38 meters below the surface of the earth, which is an exceptional undertaking.
Today, the village of Mratinje is an oasis of peace and quiet where you can enjoy camping, grilling by the lake and swimming in its clear water, which is not cold, although the view extends to high mountain peaks, often covered with snow during the summer. A truly unreal scene in which you forget about dates, obligations and everyday stress, you even lose track of what time it is. Nothing matters to you except enjoying the peace, quiet and beautiful scenery.
On the other shore of the lake, in Plužine, there is a zip line 1400 meters of length. It is the longest in Montenegro and is an interesting way to get to know the beauty of Piva Lake, raise your self-confidence and get rid of stress with a dose of adrenaline in a completely safe way.
The Piva Lake also provides an opportunity for training, so kayak and canoe lovers are often and permanent visitors.
According to your wishes, we are now able to organize a trip and activities that you want, and we also offer boat cruises.
It would be advisable to make an appointment on time, a few days before arrival for better organization. Just in order to meet all your desires.
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