Most Lake
Most Lake is an artificial lake in Most in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. The lake came to be as a result of land rehabilitation of an area formerly used as a lignite mine, and was named after the mine. The lake spans, which makes it the second largest lake in the country. It has a length of and a width of. The water level is above sea level and maximum depth of the lake is. The lake is open to the public since 12 September 2020.
Location
The lake is located in the Most Basin at above sea level. It lies in the Ústí nad Labem Region, in the northern part of the territory of the city of Most. The lake is located in the area of the former historic town of Most, which was demolished in the 1970s to make room for the Ležáky lignite mine.Characteristics
The area of the surface is, which makes is the second largest artificial lake in the country after Medard Lake. The circumference of the lake is over. The average depth of the lake is and the maximum depth is. The length of the lake is and the width is. The water level is at above sea level.History
The lake was created in place of the former lignite Ležáky Mine, later called Most Mine, which was in operation between the 1970s up until 31 August 1999. The area affected by the mining activity was revitalized by the state company Palivový kombinát Ústí. The lake was named after the Most Mine. The lake's name was officially selected on 24 September 2020 by the city councilors.The Cheminvest company built a levee and a wharf at the lake. The wharf's capacity is up to several tenths of ships. The reclamation work was originally to be finished in 2018, however at the start of 2019 an announcement was made that the lake won't be accessible for recreational purposes for another year due to the lake's geological instabilities in the bedrock. In addition to that there were also delays in regards to the construction of the floating piers and other components which were to be the basis of the integrated emergency system. The lake was officially opened to the public on 12 September 2020, albeit without celebrations due to the COVID-19 crisis, because of which the Most festivities were also cancelled.
Water level regime
Water intake of the lake
The original intent from 2002 relied on setting up the Bílina River as the water source, however after further inspection by the regional sanitation station the river was deemed unfit due to a high degree of water pollution. A better water source was selected in the form of the Ohře River, which would be drawn from the Nechranice Reservoir and from the fixed weir Stranná located by the village of the same name. Another source of water was also the approximately 5 kilometres distant Kohinoor Mine.Filling up of the lake was officially commenced on 24 October 2008. The filling lasted until September 2014 and was interrupted twice.