Vau i Dejës Lake, together with Komani lake, constitute perhaps the most important economic and touristic resources of the territory of Vau i Dejës municipality. The lake is located quite close to the town of Vau i Dejës, no more than 4 km and 23 km from the city of Shkodra.
The lake was created by the hydropower dam of Vau i Dejës, on the bed and course of the river Drin in the early 70s of the last century. It has a length of 27 km and a very variable width and sometimes passes through narrow gorges between high mountains. It has a maximum volume of 580 million cubic meters of water and an average depth of 52 m. It is rich in freshwater fish species such as trout, carp, eel, etc.
The lake offers opportunities for various recreational activities, especially activities related to the water of the lake, such as swimming, fishing, sailing and canoeing. But also, activities related to the surrounding environment such as hiking, cycling or even picnics for families who prefer outdoor activities.
A trip to the lake, whether by boat or canoe, offers a stunning landscape with the interweaving of narrow gorges, steep shores, numerous birds and the color of the lake water. Here you can also visit some very interesting places such as the island of Shurdhah and the cave of Pigeons. The Pigeons Cave, before the construction of the hydropower plant, had a dry floor and served travelers or pilgrims traveling in the Drin valley as a rest or even sleeping station. With the formation of the Vau i Dejës lake, a part of it has been flooded and can be visited by boat or canoe which can enter the cave. It gets its name from the many birds that nest and breed there.
There are some trout breeding farms that produce high quality trout destined mainly for foreign markets. In the lake, many businesses of the area’s residents operate, offering quality tourist services such as restaurants, hotels, camping, boating and canoeing, tourist guides, etc.
