Palcmanská Maša reservoir

Palcmanská Maša is the largest reservoir in the Slovak Paradise. It lies on the upper course of the Hnilec river, in a basin-like widening of the valley below the southern rocky cliffs of the Geravy plateau, on the boundary of the villages of Dedinky and Mlynky in the Košice Region. At maximum water level (786.1 m above sea level) the reservoir covers 86.5 ha (Polish Wikipedia gives 85 ha), holds more than 11 million m³ and backs up for 3.9 km. It is formed by a concrete gravity dam 209 m long at the crest and 34 m high from its foundations (23 m above ground); the catchment area is 84.5 km².

The reservoir was built in 1948–1954 (Polish Wikipedia gives 1956) as the main part of the Dobšiná hydro scheme — the first pumped-storage power station in Slovakia. Water from Palcmanská Maša flows through a 2.7 km tunnel under Dobšinský kopec to the power station in Vlčia dolina near Dobšiná, i.e. from the Hnilec basin into the basin of the Slaná; when there is surplus power it is pumped back. The station has operated since 1953 and after reconstruction in 2003 has two 12 MW turbines. Even before the reservoir existed, in 1933, two villages on its shores — Imrichovce and Štefanovce — merged to form Dedinky. Besides power generation, the reservoir evens out the flow of the Hnilec and serves recreation; a fish farm operates on the water.

What to see and do

• Shores and views: the dark spruce slopes of Geravy, limestone rocks above the water and the panorama of Dedinky with the Church of the Assumption (1833–1835).
• Relaxing by the water: the park administration mentions beaches in Dedinky; the reservoir is used for water sports and fishing (under local fishing rules).
• The Geravy chairlift from Dedinky — a single-seat chairlift with views of the reservoir from above.
• The dam on the Mlynky side and walks along the shore — a calm option for families with children.

Getting there

Dedinky lies 13 km from Dobšiná; buses run here from Poprad (41 km) via Vernár (25 km) and from Spišská Nová Ves (33 km). By train — from Banská Bystrica via the Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa stop or from Margecany. From Dedinky marked routes start — Dedinky, stop – Pod Hanesovou and Dedinky – Zadný Hýľ; from the Dedinky, hotel junction you can walk in 20 minutes on the red trail to the entrance of the Zejmarská Gorge and come back down from Geravy by chairlift (runs 1 May to 31 October, from 5 October 2026 at weekends only). A walk along the shore needs no special equipment.

Season and safety

The reservoir is accessible all year: in summer for relaxing by the water, in autumn for the colourful forests, and in winter the water freezes. The water level changes with the operation of the power station, so take care near the dam and on steep banks; do not go onto the ice unless officially permitted. The surroundings belong to the Slovak Paradise — keep to marked trails and do not light fires outside designated places. Dedinky has a Mountain Rescue Service station and an information point of the national park administration; the rescue number is 18 300, the general emergency number 112. As of October 2026.

Nearby

A few kilometres away is the Dobšinská Ice Cave, and above the reservoir the Zejmarská Gorge and the Nálepka waterfalls. Across the Glac plateau you can walk to the Závojový waterfall and Kláštorisko – Carthusian Monastery Ruins.

Photos: Draceane, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jan Pešula, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Fry72, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.