Lake Krupac (Krupačko jezero)
The Perućica reservoir on the edge of Nikšić: 5.048 km², up to 13 m deep, with a sandy beach by the 1.5 km dam, water up to 28 °C in summer, kayaks and paddleboards, fishing permits and the Lake Fest rock festival below the dam.
Nikšić
Photo: Andrija12345678 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Surface
- 5.048 km²
- Max depth
- 13 m
Lake Krupac (Krupačko jezero) is a reservoir on the Nikšić field, 6.5 km by road from the centre of Nikšić. It was built for the Perućica hydro scheme together with Slano jezero and the Vrtac retention basin, and it has become the town's bathing place: a sandy beach by the dam, water that reaches 28 °C in summer, kayaks and paddleboards on the lake and the Lake Fest rock festival below the dam every year. It is known as "Nikšićko more", the Nikšić sea.
The lake in figures
| Type | Reservoir of the Perućica hydro scheme |
| Elevation | 620 m |
| Area | 5.048 km² |
| Shoreline | 22 km |
| Maximum depth | 13 m |
| Volume | 42.1 million m³ |
| Dam | Crest 1.5 km long, on the boundary with the town of Nikšić |
| Outflow | The Moštanica canal and a 1 km tunnel into the Zeta II canal |
| Settlement | Stuba, Nikšić municipality |
Swimming
The sandy beach lies at the north end of the dam. The tourist board calls Krupac the largest inland bathing place in Montenegro, and the water warms to 28 °C in summer, which is why the "Nikšić sea" name has stuck.
Kayak, SUP and packraft
Paddling in Nikšić grew out of its reservoirs, and Krupac in particular: a kayak club was founded here in the 1970s. Licensed instructors now run kayak, stand-up paddleboard and packraft outings on the six Nikšić lakes and on the Zeta. The kayaking hub covers the other lakes in the country.
Fishing
The angling club SRK Nikšić sells day, month and season permits for the waters of the municipality, Krupac included. See the fishing hub for the national rules.
Lake Fest
Lake Fest, which the tourist board describes as the largest rock festival in Montenegro, is held every year on the ground below the Krupac dam.
How the lake works
Krupac is one of three artificial basins that collect water on the Nikšić field for the Perućica power plant; the others are Slano jezero and the Vrtac retention, which holds water only briefly because the ground under it is permeable. Water leaves Krupac through the Moštanica canal and a tunnel about 1 km long into the Zeta II canal, from where it runs on to the plant.
Getting there
The lake is 6.5 km (about 15 minutes) from the centre of Nikšić and 56.7 km (about 1 h 15) from Podgorica by car. The dam crest, 1.5 km long, forms the edge of the town, and the beach is at its northern end.
Nearby
- Slano jezero, the larger sister reservoir south-west of the field, with its islands and bird life.
- Nikšić, the second largest town in Montenegro, with its fortress and bridges.
- The Zeta, the river of the Nikšić field, also paddled by the local instructors.
- Kapetanovo jezero on Lukavica, the mountain lake on the municipality's eastern edge.
- Other lakes on the lakes hub.
Questions
Is Lake Krupac natural?
No. It is a reservoir built for the Perućica hydro scheme, with a 1.5 km dam on the edge of Nikšić.
Can you swim in Lake Krupac?
Yes. There is a sandy beach at the north end of the dam and the water reaches 28 °C in summer.
How deep is Lake Krupac?
Up to 13 m, with a volume of 42.1 million m³.
How far is the lake from Nikšić?
6.5 km by road, about 15 minutes by car.
Activities
- Swimming
- Kayaking
- Fishing
Things to do
Swim
Sandy beach at the north end of the dam; water up to 28 °C in summer.
Kayak, SUP, packraft
Licensed instructors run kayak, SUP and packraft outings on the Nikšić lakes and the Zeta.
Fishing
Day, month and season permits from the angling club SRK Nikšić.
Lake Fest
The rock festival held every year on the ground below the dam.
Sources
Government of Montenegro: Registar voda od značaja za Crnu Goru (2024), entry Krupac (p. 84) and Vrtac (p. 86), read 2026-11-02 · MONSTAT: Statistical Yearbook 2025, table 1-7 reservoirs (elevation), read 2026-11-02 · TO Nikšić: Lakes, Kayaking, Hiking and Flora and fauna sections (Krupac beach, Nikšićko more, Lake Fest, kayak club, SRK Nikšić permits), read 2026-11-02 · Routes computed with OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (ODbL)
