Prague completed the lake on Letná, it contains water from the Vltava
Prague – The Prague municipality has completed the lake on Letná, which it filled with water from the Vltava river in the second half of last year. City spokesman Vít Hofman stated this when asked by ČTK. The lake is located in the area north of the Hanavské pavilion towards the sand area and is fed by a pump with water from the Vltava. Its main purpose is irrigation and it is also intended for recreation, although swimming in it will be at your own risk.
“The regime here will be similar to, for example, the ponds in Stromovka. People bathe here at their own risk, dogs are prohibited from bathing here and we will not allow boats – the area is too small for that and conflicts could occur. The water area is 6,500 square meters, a maximum depth of about two meters,” stated Hofman. The cost of building the areas was 15.6 million crowns without VAT.
The city pumped water into the lake through one of the three working shafts of Rudolf’s gallery from the 16th century. The filling was completed before Christmas, Hofman added. One of the ways to build a new area is to combat drought – for this purpose, the city is gradually repairing and improving ponds and streams and building reservoirs to retain water. Part of the new pond is an island that can be reached via a wooden jetty.
According to earlier information from the municipality, Prague owns 85 ponds with an area of 120 hectares. Another 20 ponds of 30 hectares are owned by private individuals. The city also owns 32 retention reservoirs, seven dry polders, 28 rainwater reservoirs and four large waterworks, such as the Hostivařská dam or Džbán.
At the end of the year before last, Prague councilors approved a set of rules to help in the fight against drought. The city should support the construction of water areas and features and minimize concreted areas, which should be replaced by open spaces with permeable surfaces. Greenery is to be planted on the roofs of the buildings, which will use the water, improve the city’s environment and cool it down at the same time. The document is based on the climate strategy approved the year before.