LAKES OF THE PLIVA

Before flowing into the Vrbas at the remarkable Pliva waterfalls in Jajce, the tumultuous little river, 27 km long, forms two artificial lakes (Plivska Jezera) which are very popular with the locals, both for their natural setting, their famous mills and for kayaking. The lake is 8 km long, 200-600 m wide and 2.8 km2 in area and is formed by a dam 2 km upstream from Jajce. The Small Pliva Lake (Malo Plivsko Jezero, 20 ha) continues with the Large Pliva Lake (Veliko Plivsko Jezero, 260 ha) which ends at the village of Jezero ("lake"), in the Serbian Republic of Bosnia. The two lakes are separated by an island and a small strait connected to the southern shore by a footbridge. It is here, on the northern shore, that twenty-four wooden mills, resembling small huts, have been installed, dating back to the Ottoman period. Originally scattered around the two lakes, they were concentrated in one place, at a place called Mlinčići ("water mills"), on a gently sloping waterfall. Mounted on stilts and each placed in such a way as to take advantage of the current, these mills operate with different mechanisms and are still, for some, used by their owners to grind cereals or buckwheat. You can take advantage of this enchanting setting to picnic, cycle or fish. You can also rent kayaks in the small marina on the large Pliva Lake, located 600 meters east of the mills, in front of Motel Plaža.