Vyšná Rybnica: Morské oko, Nature and Culture

Morské oko lies within the cadastral areas of Remetské Hámre and Vyšná Rybnica. It covers an area of 13.80 hectares and has an average depth of 25 metres. Its present form has existed since the 1980s; during that period, a dam was built and the water level was raised by approximately 5 metres. The area and average depth describe two different dimensions of the body of water: its spatial extent and its mean depth.

Nature

A forestry educational trail leads through the primeval forest around Morské oko, running in sections along the trackbed of the former forest railway. An asphalt road leads to the car park below Morské oko.

The Machnatý vrch Nature Reserve was designated in 1985, covers 3.18 hectares and lies within the cadastral area of Vyšná Rybnica. The rare and endangered plant species Chimaphila umbellata occurs in the nature reserve.

Water Management

The Vyšná Rybnica water-management structure is located on the Okna River at river kilometre 24.300. Its dam is 10.50 metres high and 434.50 metres long along the crest. The Vyšná Rybnica Reservoir has a total volume of 427,950 cubic metres and an inundated area of 95,000 square metres at the maximum permissible water level. The VN Vyšná Rybnica (K) water body is registered under number 4-3970-1-1 as the reservoir water area at the municipality of Vyšná Rybnica. The height and crest length refer to the dam, while the volume and inundated area give the dimensions of the associated reservoir from two additional perspectives.

Culture

The Greek Catholic Church of Vyšná Rybnica is dedicated to the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God. On 18 August, the restored exterior and interior of the church, as well as the reconstructed iconostasis, were consecrated during a liturgy marking the 600th anniversary of the first written mention of Vyšná Rybnica.

The water mill in Vyšná Rybnica, powered by a Francis turbine, is a national cultural monument. Its mechanism extends across more than three floors and is driven by Francis turbines. The water mill was reconstructed in 2007 to remain as faithful to the original as possible.

Getting There and Refreshments

The Vyšná Rybnica, čakáreň stop is listed in tariff zone 422 of IDS Východ. In Vyšná Rybnica, refreshments are available at the “Rybnička” roadside restaurant.

When planning accommodation in Vyšná Rybnica, three details can be considered separately for a hotel: the travel dates, the room category and the cancellation policy. Together, they define the time frame, type of room and conditions for a possible change, while nature, bodies of water and culture form the destination’s main themes.

Vyšná Rybnica. More destination pages: Košice-Okolie District, Košice, Michalovce District, Trebišov District, Sobrance District, Spišská Nová Ves District, Rožňava.

Events

On 11 May 2025, another edition of the Memoriál Františka Oravca event took place at the Vyšná Rybnica Reservoir. In the 2025 Memoriál Františka Oravca, fishing was carried out exclusively with a bottom rod.

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