Type reservoir Primary outflows Nemunas River Max. width 3.3 km (2.1 mi) Area 63.5 km² Inflow source Neman Cities Kaunas, Rumšiškės | Primary inflows Basin countries Lithuania Surface area 63.5 km (24.5 sq mi) Width 3.3 km Outflow location Neman | |
 | ||
Kaunas Reservoir (Lithuanian: Kauno marios) is the largest Lithuanian artificial lake, created in 1959 by damming the Nemunas River near Kaunas and Rumšiškės. It occupies 63.5 square kilometers, which is about 0.1% of the total territory of Lithuania. The reservoir supports the operations of the Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant. Its waters cover the Nemunas valley from the river's confluence with Strėva River to the dam, a distance of about 25 kilometers. The greatest width of the reservoir is 3.3 kilometers and its greatest depth is 22 meters.
Map of Kaunas Reservoir, Lithuania
The reservoir also supports the operations of 900MW Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant, which is situated near confluence with Strėva River.
In anticipation of the reservoir's creation, 721 farms and villages were moved to various locations. The entire town of Rumšiškės was relocated and is now an open-air ethnographic museum.
In 1992, in order to protect the local environment and cultural heritage, Kaunas Reservoir Regional Park was established. A yacht club operates in the park.