On the crest you drive or walk above a drop of more than 160 m, with the lake on one side and the valley on the other.
About the place
Work began in 1960 and took about five and a half years; the dam went into service in 1966. It is 166.6 m high and about 305 m long at the crest, at 834 m above sea level. The power station is underground, inside the mountain, and has 220 MW. On the rock next to the dam stands the statue of Prometheus, a symbol of electricity, by the sculptor Constantin Popovici; steps beside it lead to a viewpoint.
The lake was drained from August 2025 to February 2026 to modernise the power station and has been refilled in a controlled way since 1 April 2026, according to Hidroelectrica, so the water may still be lower than usual. The road to the dam and across it is open all year; only the high section beyond Piscu Negru closes in winter.
Good to know
- Park in the marked spaces next to the dam and cross the crest on the pavement.
- For a view of the whole dam, climb the steps towards the Prometheus statue.
- In winter the road can be snowy or icy: come with winter tyres and check Infotrafic before you set off.
Opening hours
Opening hours are not confirmed. Check the venue's website before you go.