Lake Kruščica

Lake Kruščica in Lika is an artificial lake on the lower course of the Lika River, near Kosinj. If you rent affordable accommodation in Gospić, Kruščica can be a great destination for an active holiday in Lika, offering the opportunity to explore its beauty, which is not always natural, nor are the stories behind it simple. The unpredictable flow of the Lika River and frequent floods led to the idea of building a hydroelectric power plant and the Kruščica reservoir in 1971. Today, this lake is a paradise for recreationalists and fishermen who boast of catching catfish weighing up to 90 kilograms. It is also a haven for various animals that visit this watering hole, so you may easily encounter otters, roe deer, hinds, or stags here. However, the story of the construction of the artificial Lake Kruščica is far from idyllic – the lake's name comes from the village that was submerged during its creation, with its residents displaced and the graves of their ancestors relocated. When the weather is mild, and the lake's surface is calm, the remnants of the Church of St. Elijah, as well as the houses and estates of the submerged village, can still be seen.