At 15 kilometers long and 8 meters wide, the Lipno Dam, an expanse of the Vltava River connecting Lipno nad Vltavou to Frymburk, made the Guinness Book of World Records in 2009 for the “world’s largest ice skating rink,” ousting a track in Ottawa Canada, that measured 7.8 kilometers.
(This Twitter pic truly captures the majesty of the rink.)
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❄️3 setmanes de patinatge sobre gel a l’embassament de #Lipno#Frymburk#RepúblicaTxeca ▶️ https://t.co/TnygPsnALK#324eltempspic.twitter.com/YIiKDdJtoD
— Alberto Alcántara (@alcantara_alb) February 11, 2017
Volunteers clear snow from the dam each year creating a wintry pathway for all manner of skaters and vehicles—sled, prams, and even cars—to traverse the solid ice.
(According to a Czech proverb, if the ice is more than 15 centimeters thick it will support the weight of a knight in armor and his horse!)
The rink at Lipno has well surpassed the 15-centimeter mark this year: most recently it was measured at 30-centimeters-thick which has allowed the rink to stay open for a record three consecutive weeks; milder winters of years past have interrupted access and limited skating time due to safety reasons.
The reservoir has already attracted some 10,000 visitors this year from the Czech Republic and neighboring countries.