Lake Mácha

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title: "Lake Mácha" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["artificial-lakes-of-the-czech-republic", "geography-of-the-liberec-region", "česká-lípa-district", "fish-ponds", "karel-hynek-mácha"] description: "Pond in Liberec Region, Czech Republic" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Mácha" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Pond in Liberec Region, Czech Republic ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox body of water"]

Field	Value
name	Lake Mácha
image	Máchovo jezero.JPG
caption	View from Staré Splavy
location	Doksy, Liberec Region
coords
pushpin_map	Czech Republic
pushpin_map_alt	Location of pond in the Czech Republic
type	pond
basin_countries	Czech Republic
area	2.84 km2
depth	2.2 m
max-depth	5.2 m
volume	6782000 m³
elevation	266 m
::

| name = Lake Mácha | image = Máchovo jezero.JPG | caption = View from Staré Splavy | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Doksy, Liberec Region | coords = | pushpin_map = Czech Republic | pushpin_map_alt = Location of pond in the Czech Republic | type = pond | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = Czech Republic | length = | width = | area = 2.84 km2 | depth = 2.2 m | max-depth = 5.2 m | volume = 6782000 m³ | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = 266 m | islands = | cities = Lake Mácha () is a pond at Doksy in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. With an area of 2.84 km2 it is the largest pond in the region and therefore is called a lake, despite its artificial origin. It is a popular summer holiday destination. It is associated with the work of the poet Karel Hynek Mácha, after whom it got its current name.

Geography

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Rašeliniště_u_Máchova_jezera,_NPP_Swamp.jpg" caption="Swamp National Nature Monument"] ::

Lake Mácha is located in the municipal territory of Doksy in the Liberec Region. It lies in the Ralsko Uplands and was established on the stream Robečský potok. It has an area of 2.84 km2. It is the largest pond in the region and the 9th largest body of water in the country. It is located about 33 km southwest of Liberec and 55 km north of Prague.

Protection of nature

The pond lies in the Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj Protected Landscape Area. The southeastern tip of the pond is surrounded by peat bogs and this area is protected as a national nature monument called Swamp, with an area of 47.2 ha. In the middle of the pond are two small islands named Myší and Kachní. They are important ornithological sites and entry to them is prohibited.

Technical details

Lake Mácha is on average 2.2 m deep and the greatest depth is 5.2 m. Volume of retained water is 6.782 million m³. The dam is on average 6–8 high and its length in crown is 209 m.

History

In 1366, King Charles IV ordered a large pond to be established here. It had originally an area of 300 ha.

Its older name was Velký rybník ('Big Pond', or in German Großteich) or Hirschberský rybník ('Hirschberg Pond', or in German Hirschberger Großteich). Its current name was established after 1945 and despite the fact that the official renaming never took place, it has appeared in official documents since 1961. The modern name refers to the romantic poet Karel Hynek Mácha, who was charmed by the surrounding landscape and located the basis of his most famous poem Máj here.

In the 19th century, there was a spa resort. Until 1920, the area was property of the Waldstein family, who allowed swimming in designated places. The pond was fully opened for recreation in 1928.

Use

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Pláž_Doksy.jpg" caption="Beach in Doksy"] ::

Lake Mácha is known primarily as a recreational location. There are four sandy beaches, many accommodation facilities and other infrastructure. In the summer season, cruise ships cross the pond. The pond is also used for sport fishing and yachting, and in the winter season the frozen water area is used for ice skating and cross-country skiing.

In popular culture

Lake Mácha appeared in several films, including The Devil's Mistress (2016) and The Painted Bird (2019).

References

References

1. "Máchovo jezero – romantika, slunce, vodní atrakce". CzechTourism.
2. (2018-05-14). "Tipy na vodní výlety: Rašeliniště u Máchova jezera". Naše voda.
3. Koťátko, Jiří. (May 2016). "Máchovo jezero: Celková zpráva o TBD při ověřovacím provozu VD". Vodní díla – TBD a.s..
4. (2020-05-16). "Máchovo jezero je vlastně Velký rybník. Neromantické jméno mu dal Karel IV.". [[Czech Radio]].
5. "Z historie města". Město Doksy.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::