Black Lake - Černé jezero

With its surface of 18,43 hectares, it is the largest and deepest (maximum depth of 40 m) lake in the Šumava and the Bavarian Forest. Its altitude is on the other hand the lowest amongst the other Šumva lakes (1008 m). The name comes from the apparently black colour of its waters, which is due to reflection of the surrounding dense forests. A tourist cottage used to stay by the lake, later a restaurant and - until recently - the seat of the border patrol. Today, there is only a small house providing regulation of water outflow into the power station.

Amongst the rare flora and fauna species we should name the covers of lake quillwort and Europena bur-reed. On the wall facing north, there are arctic-alpine flora species. Rare species of invertebrates also live in the lake. A 300 m high wall of Jezerní mountain is rising above the surface. With the altitude of 1343 m above see level, it is the highest peak of the region of Železná Ruda.

The Black Lake also has a technical monument - the pumped-storage power plant with the output of 1,5 MW. As the first power station of this type built by Škodovy závody Plzeň and put into operation in 1930, it has been listed amongst historical technical monuments. The equalization basin is placed deep in the Úhlava valley and is connected with the Black Lake by a 2 km long conduit with super-elevation of 280 m.

The atmosphere of the Black Lake inspired many significant writers, poets and composers - Antonín Dvořák, Jan Neruda, Alois Vojtěch Šmilovksý, Jaroslav Vrchlický, Adolf Heyduk, etc.

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